Title: Iran Takes Steps to Address 4 Million Unregistered Properties
Subheading: Government Implements New Laws to Streamline Property Documentation
Iran’s Land Registration Office has revealed that approximately 4 million properties across the country still lack official deeds. Safdar Keshavarz, Deputy of Property Affairs at the organization, emphasized ongoing efforts to resolve long-standing challenges in property documentation and ownership transfers.
Speaking at an event in Lorestan Province, Keshavarz outlined two major issues previously affecting the system: unregistered properties and informal property transfers. These problems led to complications such as unclear ownership, incomplete land surveying, and financial crimes.
Modernizing Property Registration
In recent years, the government has enacted two key laws—Land Surveying Law and Mandatory Law—to address these challenges. Keshavarz noted significant progress, with 99% of national lands now surveyed and documented. Additionally, 77% of agricultural lands (11.6 million hectares out of 15 million) have been surveyed, while 76% of urban and rural properties have received official deeds.
Efforts are underway to convert remaining paper-based deeds into single-page digital documents for efficiency. The government has also taken steps to regulate real estate brokers, prohibiting them from processing informal transfers.
Digital Transformation in Municipalities
Keshavarz highlighted advancements in digitization, with 800 out of 1,450 municipalities now operating electronically. However, further modernization is needed for rural administrations, where fewer than 38,000 village offices have adopted digital systems.
With 4 million pending property cases awaiting official documentation, authorities are prioritizing systematic reforms to ensure transparency and legal security in real estate transactions. These measures align with broader efforts to strengthen governance and economic stability in Iran’s property sector.
