Why a structure helps
Due diligence covers title, records, planning, permissions, utilities, environment and the physical site — and different professionals handle each. A single open-issues list keeps it from fragmenting.
The checklist
Title and records
- Title chain and advocate's opinion
- Current revenue or estate records; mutations
- Encumbrances, litigation, stays
Planning and permissions
- Applicable plan and zone; CLU or licence held, with conditions
- Approved building plans; completion/occupation certificates
- Estate-authority permissions for transfer or lease
- Fire, pollution-control and other consents for the existing use
Utilities and access
- Recorded access and its width
- Sanctioned power load and meter details
- Water source; groundwater permission if extracting
- Sewer/drainage arrangement
Physical and environmental
- Survey of boundaries and area
- Structural condition of buildings (engineer)
- Flooding, PLPA/forest, heritage and airport-height checks
For tenants specifically
Ask to see the landlord's title and permissions: a lease from someone without the right to lease, or a building without occupation-stage approval, puts your operation at risk.
Running it
- Issue a document request list on day one.
- Read documents against each other, not one by one.
- Grade each open issue: could it stop the deal, change the price, or just need paperwork?
- Send each to the right professional and track to closure.