Buying, holding and proving title to land here: the two title systems, what is payable on a purchase, and how long possession alone can defeat an owner. Each question below is answered on its own page.
These questions belong to Conveyancing and Real Estate, the practice page that sets out how such a matter is run.
Last reviewed 22 September 2026
Questions on property and conveyancing
- What is the difference between a deed and a Certificate of Title in Trinidad and Tobago? They belong to two land systems that run side by side. Under the older system, a deed passes ownership, and unless the contract says otherwise a buyer can require the seller to prove title going back at least 20 years. Under the Real Property Act, the Register Book entry is the title and the owner holds a duplicate Certificate of Title. That title is strong, but fraud or a squatter can sometimes defeat it.
- How much stamp duty do I pay when buying a home in Trinidad and Tobago? On a home, if you apply to the Board of Inland Revenue for the residential rates, there is no duty on the first TT$850,000 of the price, then 3%, 5% and 7.5% on higher slices. A first-time home-owner who applies pays nothing on the first $2,000,000. Get the deed stamped within 2 months of its first signature, or penalties are added. An unstamped deed cannot be registered.
- Do I have to pay property tax in Trinidad and Tobago? No, not for 2026 or any later year. The Finance Act 2025 repealed the Property Tax Act with effect from 1 January 2026. The trap is tax from before then. The repeal does not by itself cancel tax that had already fallen due, such as an unpaid 2024 bill (or a 2025 bill, if one was issued), and the repealing Act does not waive it. Landlords now pay a separate surcharge on rent.
- What are squatters' rights in Trinidad and Tobago? A squatter can become the owner of private land by taking control of it as an owner would, without the owner's permission, for 16 years. The owner's title is then extinguished, even if the land is registered. Against the State the period is generally 30 years. Occupying with permission does not usually count, but a tenant at will, let into exclusive possession with no fixed end, can start the clock after 1 year.
Important notice. This page is general information about the law of Trinidad and Tobago. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The law changes, and how it applies depends on the facts, so take advice on your own situation before you act. Court decisions are cited for the principle they state; similar results cannot be guaranteed, and a decision may be subject to appeal or change.
Tell me what has happened.
A few sentences is enough to know whether you have a matter and what it would take.
Commentary / Property and conveyancing
Property and Conveyancing in Trinidad and Tobago
By Suraj Sakal, Attorney-at-Law, called to the Bar of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago