A Power of Attorney (PoA) is a legal document that lets someone else act on your behalf in property matters—like buying, selling, leasing, or managing real estate.
What Is It?
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The Principal gives authority to an Attorney (Agent) to act on their behalf
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Useful when the owner is abroad, unwell, or unavailable
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Must clearly define the scope of powers to avoid misuse
Types of PoA:
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General PoA (GPA)
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Broad powers: manage, lease, collect rent, pay taxes
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Not valid for selling property post-Supreme Court ruling (2011)
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Special PoA (SPA)
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Limited to specific tasks: e.g., selling one property
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Legally stronger and more acceptable for transactions
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Do’s:
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Draft with clear, specific language
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Register the PoA (mandatory for property-related powers)
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Use SPA for sale/purchase to avoid legal issues
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If NRI, get it notarized and attested by Indian consulate
Don’ts:
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Don’t rely on GPA for property sale—it’s not legally valid
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Avoid vague or blanket powers
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Never skip registration or legal vetting
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Don’t use PoA as a shortcut to bypass proper sale deed execution
