After you buy: moving the home into your name

Registration makes you the owner, but several records still carry the seller's name. Moving them into yours avoids trouble later, when you sell, take a loan or pay bills. Keep copies of your registered sale deed handy; almost every step asks for it.

Collect every original document

• Your registered sale deed, and all the earlier sale deeds (link documents) from the seller.
• If the seller had a loan: the originals released by their bank, and the bank's loan-closure letter.
• Building approvals, the occupancy certificate if there is one, and the latest tax and utility receipts.

Property tax (mutation)

Ask your municipality to change the property tax record to your name. In Hyderabad that is the GHMC (ghmc.gov.in); outside GHMC limits it is your local municipality. In some cases the change is triggered by the registration itself, so first check whether your property tax account already shows your name.

Electricity

Apply to the power distribution company to change the name on the meter. In Hyderabad that is TGSPDCL (the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana), at a customer service centre or on its website.

Water

For an individual connection, apply to HMWS&SB (hyderabadwater.gov.in) to change the name. In apartments with a common connection, the society handles it.

The society

• Give the society a copy of your sale deed and apply for membership or the share transfer.
• Get a no-dues letter covering the seller's period, and confirm your parking slot allotment in writing.
• Pay any transfer charges agreed in your sale agreement.

Also worth doing

• Transfer the piped gas connection, if there is one.
• Update your address where you need to.
• Consider home insurance, especially if you have a home loan.