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Checks before buying

Riad due diligence

A riad can be stunning and still hide an incomplete title, unauthorised works or a fragile roof terrace. Due diligence is the set of checks that lets you sign with full knowledge.

The five areas

What I check before you sign

Each area is handled with the right professional: notary, architect, craftsman, accountant.

01

Legal

Titre foncier or melkia, recent ownership certificate, mortgages and seizures, co-ownership between heirs, easements, identity and authority of the seller.

02

Planning

Permits for past works, added floors, pool, compliance with medina rules, occupancy permit where it exists.

03

Technical

Structure and load-bearing walls, damp, roof terrace waterproofing, electricity, plumbing and drainage, party walls with neighbours.

04

Taxes and charges

Local taxes up to date, water and electricity bills, meter status, any arrears to settle before the sale.

05

Business

For a guest house: licence and classification, contracts, staff, guest reviews, real operating figures and upcoming bookings.

Warning signs

Two situations to handle with care

Surfaces or plans that do not match

An added floor, a room on the terrace or a surface different from the title: you need to know whether it can be regularised, and at what cost, before setting the price.

Several heirs

A family riad often belongs to several heirs. All must consent to the sale: the list of beneficiaries and their powers of attorney are checked upfront.

The deliverable

A clear report to decide

At the end, you receive a clear summary: the deal-breakers, the points to negotiate on price, and the conditions to include in the preliminary contract. You know exactly what you are buying.

For the full buying method, see buying a riad in Marrakech. For a guest house held by a company, read guest house share transfer.

Guest houses and hotels

Auditing an operating business

For a riad run as a guest house, due diligence goes further: accounts, tax and social security debts, employment contracts, licences, online reputation. This is often where the real value of the property lies.

Frequently asked questions

Riad due diligence

The notary checks the title and the legal validity of the deed. They do not inspect the technical condition of the building, the compliance of all works or the profitability of a business.
Ideally before the preliminary contract. Otherwise, the contract should include conditions precedent that protect you if a problem arises.
From a few days to a few weeks, depending on how quickly documents can be obtained and how complex the property is.
It is even more important: the adoulaire deed, the heirs and the feasibility of registration must be examined closely.
This page is provided for general information and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Every situation should be checked with a notary.

A riad to check?

Send me the information you have: I will tell you what needs checking first.

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