(Ecofin Agency) - The Moroccan government, in order to make property transactions safer as they are impaired by land speculation, has decided to strengthen mechanisms related to land transfer. As stated in the amended law for real rights transferred to the Parliament last October 6, all proxies (mandates) for property transfers exclusively, must from now on be established in an authenticated deed.

In the case where Parliament adopts submitted amendment, all private deeds (with only signatures of contracting parties) will no more be valid. Landholders and buyers who thus want to appoint a third party to seal any land-related deal will have to address a legal professional knowingly a notary, a lawyer or an adoul , or risk having the specific mandate nullified. “Land grabs have become a major issue hurting Morocco’s land industry so we had to think about adequate preventive measures to preserve the rights of landholders and boost land tenure,” said Minister of Justice, Mustapha Ramid, in a note presenting the project.

The amendment, second of the kind since Real Property Code entered into force in 2012, will soon receive first reading by Legislation Commission for Justice and Human Rights. It was developed by the Minister of Justice, the Taxation General office, the National Agency for Land Conservation, Cadastre and Cartography, the National Order of Notaries, the National Order of Adouls, and Morocco’s bar and lawyers associations.

Souha Touré