Why you need to trust your land to a caretaker with limits

Land remains a valuable resource and important asset for many Ugandans and also remains a key source of income and livelihood to majority Ugandans in the agricultural sector especially in rural areas but urban land also remains a valuable in growing towns and cities to cater for the rising population here in terms of housing but also infrastructural development.

This has made land acquisition come with hard work but also a need to be guarded jealously when acquired.

In attempt to guard this, rather valuable and scarce resource, some land owners who can’t stay near or be there full time tend to appoint caretakers to administer or manage their land on their behalf .But be careful, limit your caretakers role on your land otherwise they may take advantage of their entrusted role and push you out.

Some of the caretakers take advantage of staying on your property for long to forge ownership. Some people who can’t develop their land immediately at times choose to give it to a caretaker to look after it but also use it temporarily; it can be for farming and other activities like bricklaying.

Some even allow them to put up small houses to stay in; they at times marry and even produce children there. And as years go on these people are already squatters on your land.

When you need to use this land or develop it, that person has already gained squatter rights which means you will have to compensate him or her before he leaves. But if you made an agreement setting terms and conditions about his stay and became watchful over his actions, you may not reach the extent of compensating him when it’s your time to utilize your land.

Also some land owners appoint agents and land managers to ensure their land is not only safe but also kept in good shape. Whether it’s an appointed company or individual you need to put limits.Dont just entrust your land to a property manager and just sit and relax, but make sure there is a good agreement in relation to his roles and let always be strict to these without compromise. An appointed agent can mortgage your land in a bank for a loan but also capitalize on your laxity to process documents and own your land.

Most people even outside the real estate circles trust lawyers indeed. When you get a trusted, credible lawyer you will leave to celebrate his service but remember at times lawyers are also human beings thus bound to be tempted. Therefore it’s wise not to keep all your documents, agreements relating to your land in custody of a lawyer because this may give him a chance to transfer ownership and possession of your land especially in case of your death. Your lawyer can manage the buying and selling of your land, and other legal advice as it may warrant but not keeping all your land documents.

Importantly it’s advisable that as you buy land and before entrusting it with a caretaker, let others get to know about it. It may be your wife, children, trusted friends and close relatives. This is very important especially when you die. There are fraudsters in communities whose target are the dead, immediately a person dies they dig in his history, property he owned and will run to close associates of the deceased to moot plans of taking over some of them but if they at least more than one person that knows about your property ,it might save the day.

If you’re looking to acquire land in Mbarara, Amity Realtors Limited is here to help you buy land in the fast growing City of Mbarara.

At Amity Realtors we have land in and around Mbarara city, the interesting thing is that you can even pay in installments but also some of our lands go as cheap as in the range of Shs 3.5M-5M. We have several plots of land for example in Igongo and Katojo in Biharwe division, Kyarwabuganda and Kakoma in Kakiika division among others.

For more information call 0200931453/0394883574, Whatsapp 0777564588 or visit Kyosiga House Level 2 Room 305. You can also check out our website for the available listings.