Property Rights Registration — Jerusalem
Land Registry (Tabu) Registration
Everything You Need to Know
What is the Tabu, how is registration done, costs and timeline — Adv. Liron Yitzhak Elmaliachaccompanies real estate transactions through to full title registration.
What Is the Tabu and What Is Its Role?
The Land Registry (Lishkat Rishum Mekarka'in) — colloquially known as the "Tabu" (from the Ottoman word) — is the government body that maintains the register of property rights in Israel. Registration in the Tabu is the statutory registration recognised in law — a Tabu registration creates a proprietary right that overrides any private agreement.
Every property is identified at three levels: Block (Gush) (geographical zone), Parcel (Chelka) (a specific plot within the block), and Sub-parcel (Tat-Chelka) (a specific unit within the building — apartment, storage room, parking space). Every purchase, sale, encumbrance or restriction — must be registered in the Tabu to have effect against third parties.
The Land Registry Extract (Nasach Tabu) is the official printout showing the registration status of a property: the owner's name, ownership percentage, encumbrances, cautionary notes and easements. It is publicly accessible to any applicant — and the attorney obtains an up-to-date copy as part of the pre-contract due diligence.
Registration Stages After a Sale Transaction
Land Registry registration concludes the entire transaction process. It does not begin immediately — clearances must first be collected from a number of bodies:
1. Real Estate Tax Clearances
Capital Gains Tax clearance (zero-gain certificate or payment) and Purchase Tax clearance — from the Tax Authority
2. ILA Approval (if the land is under leasehold)
Transfer approval from the Israel Land Authority — typically takes 4–8 weeks
3. Local Authority Clearance
Municipal tax clearance with no outstanding debt — from the municipality or regional council
4. Mortgage Discharge (if applicable)
Letter of undertaking from the lender bank + cancellation of the charge after discharge
5. Submission to the Land Registry
Filing all documents with the Land Registry + registration fee — processing within 2–6 weeks
Unique Aspects in Jerusalem and the Judea & Samaria Region
ILA Leasehold Land: A large share of Jerusalem properties are on state-owned land held under long-term leases for fixed periods. Every transfer of rights requires approval from the Israel Land Authority (ILA) — a process that takes weeks and sometimes months and can complicate transaction timelines.
Unregistered Properties: In Jerusalem there are still properties that have never been registered in the Tabu — mainly in older neighbourhoods and Arab areas. Ownership of these properties is based on inheritance deeds and agreements. Initial registration requires a special legal proceeding.
Area C — Civil Administration: Communities such as Ma'ale Adumim, Efrat, Gush Etzion, Beitar Ilit, Beit El and others — are outside Israeli sovereign jurisdiction and are registered with the Civil Administration (the IDF administrative body in the area). The applicable law, procedures and methods of transacting are entirely different from the regular Tabu — an attorney specialising in these areas is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions — Land Registry (Tabu)
Detailed answers to the most common questions about the Tabu and property rights registration
Free Initial Consultation
Adv. Liron Yitzhak Elmaliach — Property Rights Registration
Questions about Land Registry registration? Unregistered title? We are happy to help. 33 HaShneim Asar, Pisgat Ze'ev, Jerusalem.
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