Declaration of Identity

A Declaration of Identity is a process of certifying a property with regard to the services located within its boundaries.                                                                                                                                                                                       The declaration, signed off by a professional assessor and subsequently approved by a Commissioner of Oaths states that all the services used by the dwelling and the property are located within the legally defined boundaries of the property / site. The property folio is referred to in the declaration and accompanied by the Folio map outlining the site in red.                                                                                                                                                                     Services used by a property usually include a septic tank or treatment system along with the percolation area and rainwater soakaway, heating systems, private wells, means of site entry and the dwelling itself including extensions etc.

Why obtain a Declaration of Identity?

This certificate is usually requested by solicitors to ensure that no issues arise in the future with access to these service and is commonly required for rural properties. It may also be sought when a building and property is being sold or purchased.

5 steps to obtaining a Declaration of Identity...

1. The client or agent contacts D O' S Conulting Engineers and a fee is agreed.
2. We request and observe the necessary folio number and/or land registry maps.
3. We will arrange and carry out a visual site inspection and carry out a comparison to the land registry / folio maps.
4. If satisfied that the services are located within property boundaries, the certificate is then completed and published by D O' S Conulting Engineers to the Agent or Client
5. A Commissioner for Oaths signs the Declaration of Identity

What happens if the services are not located within the boundaries?

If for some reason, services or part of the structure is located outside the property boundaries, a Declaration of Identity cannot be published. This may impeed the process of a purchase on the site and rectification my be required.                                                                                                                                                                         Rectification may involve the relocation of existing services or the adjustment of the legally defined property boundaries and may also require agreement with a 3rd party (i.e. adjacent land owner) if necessary. While a solicitor will usually be engaged to complete the legal process of a rectification map, D O' S Conulting Engineers have experience in completing land registry compliant maps.

For more information on a declaration of identity contact Diarmaid O'Sullivan Consulting Engineers for a free quotation