How to Find Out the Owner of a Vacant Lot Property

If you’re curious to know who is the owner of a vacant lot, there are proven ways to identify to whom it belongs to. While this is not the official procedure but rather based only on our experience, we still want to share with you how to get the name of the owner of that vacant property. This guide will also give you an idea on how to get a certified true copy of the title of the vacant lot you are interested in.

3 Steps to Identify the Proprietor of a Vacant Lot

Let’s say you have already surveyed the area regarding the owner of the vacant lot, but the neighbors and even the Barangay Captain can’t provide you with an answer. Well, there’s another way to reveal the owner of that property, just follow these steps:

Step 1: Use Google Map. You can download this app on your mobile device to conveniently use it. Search the property on the map and mark it. Make sure to mention the street where it is located and a nearby landmark. Once you have marked these three, you can print it out or just take a screenshot of the target subject.

Step 2: Bring the printed map or the screenshot to the Assessor’s office. Go to the municipal or city hall and find the tax mapping office usually located at the Assessor’s office. Look for the officer-in-charge in printing the tax map and present the printed copy of the marked property on the Google map.

Step 3: Ask the OIC to print the tax map. This public document will show the subject property and can be printed by anyone for the right reason. The tax map looks like a subdivision plan where you can see the name of the owners of every property, therefore you can find the owner of the vacant lot.

How to Get the Title of a Vacant Lot

Due to the Data Privacy law, it’s not that easy anymore to obtain information about other people in the Philippines. But since it’s a public document, maybe you can give a valid reason for requesting a copy of the vacant property’s title from the Registry of Deeds. Assuming you already have the tax map, you just need to get the title number of the property found on the map. Other details you will see on the tax map are the owners of the properties.

You will know it’s the title number if it says T-##### for old titles, while the title number is longer for e-titles. Now, go to the Registry of Deeds and show the title number that you want to request the title for. They will print a Certified True Copy of the title, again, this is a public document and anyone can request for it. In case the Assessor’s officer-in-charge doesn’t allow to print the title, tax map, or the tax declaration no matter the reason, its their prerogative.