What is access to a public road and how does it affect property value?
A public road is one of the categories of roads that anyone can use, in accordance with its intended purpose and within the scope specified in the Public Roads Act, e.g., national, provincial, municipal. Access to it has a significant impact on the value of a property because, among other things:
- decides about the possibility of legal and free use of the plot , including access, utilities and implementation of development in accordance with the local plan,
- is important for obtaining positive administrative decisions , in particular building permits – lack of access to a public road may block the investment,
- affects the possibility of financing the purchase with a mortgage loan , because banks verify the legal status of the property,
- generates or eliminates additional investment costs , e.g. establishing a right of way.
Documents confirming access to a public road allow you to verify the legal status of the property and ensure transaction transparency. This increases investment certainty and the financial security of your company.
>> It's also worth checking: : Easement – what is it and how much does it reduce the value of the property?
Worth knowing:
From an investment perspective, access to a public road should be understood broadly, meaning both factually and legally. This means that the property must be directly accessible from a public road, through a private road, or through an easement. Furthermore, this must be demonstrated by appropriate documents confirming access to a public road.
How to check if a plot has access to a public road?
When planning a residential investment , it's worth thoroughly verifying the property's legal status, as hidden encumbrances or discrepancies can prolong or complicate the investment, as well as generate additional costs. Plot status can be checked, for example, at:
- Geoportal.gov.pl – virtual maps allow you to analyze, among others, plot boundaries, access to public roads, and property location in the context of local development plans,
- Electronic Land and Mortgage Registers – information on the right of passage and passage through the property can be found in the I-SP section,
- Land and Building Register – kept by the Surveying Departments in the District Offices; officials issue an extract from the land register, which contains information on the legal and factual status of the plot,
- Municipal or City Office – the official can provide information about the road manager.
Access to the Geoportal and Electronic Land and Mortgage Registers is free of charge, but a fee must be paid for issuing an official certificate.
A thorough analysis of real estate market offers will allow you to strategically allocate capital to scale your business.
If you are looking for a building with investment potential, you may be interested in the offer of Nieruchomości Orange (https://www.nieruchomosci.orange.pl/en/szczegoly_ogloszenia/227/0/T07068 ).
What does the lack of access to a public road mean for your business strategy?
The lack of formal access to a public road can generate various legal or business problems, including:
- makes it impossible to obtain development conditions (WZ) or a building permit,
- may result in the bank refusing a loan,
- reduces the value of the land,
- increases investment costs.
A solution to such a difficult situation is, for example, establishing a right-of-way easement. However, this requires a discussion with the owner, a notarial deed, and entry in the land and mortgage register, or possibly filing a court application. Both solutions can be complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Therefore, before signing a contract, it's worth verifying whether the plot has access to a public road. This will ensure your company's financial security and maximize your chances of profits.