Permission to Purchase, explained

What it is

Permission to Purchase (PTP) is the government consent a foreign buyer needs before a title deed can be transferred into their name. It is an administrative step, not a negotiation.

What is checked

• Identity and a clean criminal record certificate from your home country.
• That the property and plot fall within the permitted limits.
• That the land is not in a restricted zone (for example near military land).

Documents you will typically provide

1. Passport copy.
2. Criminal record certificate (police check), usually issued within the last few months.
3. Property details and a copy of the sale contract.

Timeframes

Historically PTP has taken anywhere from a few months to well over a year. Volumes and process changes move the number, so plan for a long tail rather than a fixed date. Delay is normal; silence from your lawyer is not.

What protects you meanwhile

Registering your sale contract at the Land Registry is the key step. It records your interest against the plot and gives you priority over later dealings. You can normally take possession and even complete payment while PTP is pending — the deed transfer is what waits.

Questions worth asking

• Has my contract been registered, and can I see proof?
• Is the plot in any restricted zone?
• What happens to my payments if permission is refused?

A refusal is rare, but your contract should say what happens if it occurs.