Commission a building survey

The Liegenschaftskataster (real property cadastre) contains the current record of all plots of land and buildings of relevance under property law in Berlin. Owners or holders of heritable building rights (Erbbauberechtigte) are obliged to have all newly constructed buildings and structural changes to a building's footprint (e.g. extensions) surveyed at their own expense, for the purpose of updating the Liegenschaftskataster. This is an obligation that is not subject to a statute of limitations. It arises once the building or structural change has been completed as a shell (Rohbau) in its essential structure. In the event of a change of ownership, the obligation transfers to the new owner. In Berlin, building surveys are carried out by Öffentlich bestellte Vermessungsingenieurinnen or Vermessungsingenieure (ÖbVI, publicly appointed surveying engineers). Process • Commission a publicly appointed surveying engineer (ÖbVI) for the building survey. • The ÖbVI surveys the building or the structural changes. • The ÖbVI submits the survey documents to the responsible district surveying office (Vermessungsamt). • The Vermessungsamt incorporates the survey into the official map records of the Liegenschaftskataster. • You receive the Fortführungsmitteilung (update notification) regarding the Liegenschaftskataster from the Vermessungsamt.