House Inspection Checklist for Pakistan: Papers, Structure and Services Before You Buy

A house inspection in Pakistan should cover three things in order: the papers (approved map, completion certificate, tax and utility records, title), whether the built house matches the approved map and building rules, and the physical condition of the structure, roof, dampness, plumbing, drainage, electrics and gas.

A proper house inspection in Pakistan checks three things, in this order: the papers, whether the house matches its approved map, and the physical condition. In DHA Lahore, for example, a completion certificate is normally issued within 20 days once no violations are found, and construction that was never approved "must be demolished at the owner's cost," under the DHA Construction and Development Regulations.

That last rule is why the paper check comes first. A buyer inherits the building's violations along with its bricks.

Step 1: Inspect the papers before the house

Ask the seller for these before you book a viewing with an engineer:

DHA's NDC for a constructed house asks for the completion certificate, the Cantonment Board TIP receipt and clearance, and the property tax receipt, per DHA Lahore. If the seller cannot produce them now, the transfer will stall later.

For revenue-record houses, Punjab's Green Property Certificate has been mandatory for property transactions since 1 July 2026. It verifies ownership and possession through NADRA biometrics, a GPS survey and neighbour confirmation, Pakistan Observer reported.

Step 2: Compare the house with the approved map and the rules

Walk the house with the approved map in hand. Measure, don't eyeball.

In DHA Lahore, the regulations set these limits, per the 2014 regulations as updated:

In LDA areas, draft amendments to the LDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2019 tabulate limits by plot size, for example three storeys and 38 ft for 5 to under 10 marla, and four storeys and 45 ft for 10 marla to under 1 kanal, per LDA's draft. In April 2025 LDA reinstated setbacks for 10 marla, 1 kanal and 2 kanal houses and banned pillar-based residential construction, Pakistan Observer reported.

Look especially for:

• Rooms built into setbacks or clear spaces.
• An extra floor, or a full second storey in DHA.
• A ground floor converted to shops or an office.
• A basement that is not on the map.

LDA sealed 73 properties in Gulberg, Faisal Town, New Muslim Town, Samanabad and Allama Iqbal Town in July 2026 for unauthorised commercial use, APP reported. A "house with shop income" may be a liability.

Step 3: Structure, roof and walls

Hire a structural engineer or architect for this part if the house is more than a few years old or you see cracks. DHA itself requires drawings by a PCATP-registered architect and a structural stability certificate from a registered structural engineer for residential plans.

Walk the house with this list:

1. Cracks: note any diagonal cracks near door and window corners, cracks wider than a hairline, or cracks that run through beams and columns.
2. Floor level: roll a marble or use a phone level; sloping floors suggest settlement.
3. Roof slab: check the underside for stains, exposed steel or flaking plaster.
4. Roof top: look at waterproofing, slope to drains and blocked outlets.
5. Parapets and boundary walls: lean, cracks and loose copings.
6. Stairs: uniform risers, solid railings, no cracks at landings.
7. Doors and windows: do they close without force? Sticking can signal movement.
8. Basement: walls for seepage lines, a working sump or pump, ventilation.

Step 4: Dampness and seepage

Damp is the most common defect in Lahore houses and the most expensive to cure once ignored. Check in the morning, ideally after rain.

• Tide marks or peeling paint on the lower walls of the ground floor.
• Musty smell in cupboards and store rooms.
• Bubbling plaster on walls behind bathrooms and kitchens.
• Ceiling stains below bathrooms, water tanks and roof drains.
• White salt deposits (efflorescence) on brickwork.
• Fresh paint in just one patch, which can hide a recent leak.

DHA requires the plinth to sit at least 1.5 ft above the road crown. A house sitting below the road level today, because the road was raised, is more likely to take in water.

Step 5: Water, drainage, gas and electrics

Ask for the last three months of electricity and gas bills. They show the meters are live and give you a feel for running costs.

Step 6: Heat, ventilation and running costs

Lahore's summers make design matter. Built-up land in Lahore grew by 23.52% between 1990 and 2020, and urban temperatures in 2020 were 2.41°C above rural surroundings, Dawn reported, citing a 2022 study.

Architects in Lahore use roof and wall insulation, cavity walls, sunshades and cross-ventilation to keep houses cooler, according to a UET Taxila Technical Journal study. During the visit:

• Ask whether the roof is insulated and how.
• Check the top floor's temperature in the afternoon.
• Note which way the main rooms face, and whether windows allow cross-breeze.

Common mistakes

• Inspecting only on a dry, bright afternoon. Damp and drainage problems show after rain.
• Accepting a photocopy of the map. Ask for the approved copy and match the plot number.
• Ignoring "small" extensions. An extra room in the setback can block the completion certificate.
• Skipping the engineer to save a fee. One cracked beam costs more than the visit.
• Not testing every tap, toilet and switch. It takes 20 minutes and finds most hidden faults.
• Trusting fresh paint. Ask when and why it was painted.

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