Property
A constitutive land register and strict farmland rules
Title passes on registration in the land register (földhivatal) rather than on the contract, so the deed is only the first step. Acquisition of arable land is confined largely to qualified Hungarian farmers, a regime repeatedly litigated before the Court of Justice.
Key rules
- Ownership of real property is acquired by entry in the land register.
- The transfer contract must be in writing and countersigned by an attorney or notary.
- Only registered farmers may buy arable land, subject to area caps and local pre-emption.
- Non-EEA buyers of other property need an administrative permit from the county government office.
Governing law
- Act V of 2013 on the Civil Code (2013)Book Five on rights in rem.
- Act C of 2021 on the land register (2021)Electronic register reform.
- Act CXXII of 2013 on agricultural land transactions (2013)
In practice
The register shows a pending application as a marginal note, so always check for a widow's right of residence or an existing pre-emption note before paying the deposit.