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The House You're About to Buy Comes with $127,000 in Hidden Debt: How to Check for Liens on Property
A property can carry $127,000 in hidden debt. You inherit it unless you know how to check for liens on property.
Every year, Canadian home buyers find out, often after closing, that their new property has liens they're now responsible for. Learning how to check for liens on property reveals construction liens, tax liens, mortgage liens. Debts they didn't create. Bills they'll have to pay. All because they skipped learning how to check for liens on property, a 5-minute search that's free, legal, and public.
Quick question: Can you name the three types of liens that survive property transfer in Canada? If not, you're about to learn why knowing how to check for liens on property matters and why "clean title" isn't always as clean as your lawyer assumes.
Title Insurance Protects You After Finding Liens
Title insurance protects you after finding liens. Title searches prevent finding them in the first place. And in Canada, not all liens appear in standard title searches done during purchase.
The timing trap: Most buyers only check during the offer process. But liens can be registered anytime, even between your offer and closing. The Edmonton buyer who checked twice saved himself $43,000. The Calgary buyer who checked once didn't.
In the next 5 minutes, you'll discover how to check for liens on property:
- The 3 lien types that can be very costly
- Where to search when learning how to check for liens on property in each Canadian province
- Why timing matters for how to check for liens on property title searches
- Why you need a pre-closing lien check
Many people make a key error when learning how to check for liens on property: they trust the system instead of checking it themselves. Combine this with our home inspection checklist 156 items for complete due diligence.
The $43,000 Surprise: Why Knowing How to Check for Liens on Property Matters
Case A: Edmonton 2023 - Knew How to Check for Liens on Property
Michael made an offer on a house. Standard home check. Lawyer did title search. Everything clean. Week before closing, Michael knew how to check for liens on property and ran his own lien search on Alberta's SPIN2 system.
Discovery: Construction lien registered 4 days after his offer. $43,000 for unpaid work by previous owner.
Action: Contacted lawyer right away. Lien settled with contractor. Seller paid at closing. Michael's purchase price adjusted.
Savings: $43,000 (plus legal fees)
Case B: Calgary 2023 - Didn't Know How to Check for Liens on Property
Jennifer relied only on lawyer's title search because she didn't know how to check for liens on property herself. Closed on property. Three months later, contractor's lien appeared. It was registered 2 days before closing but not caught in lawyer's search timing.
Result: Jennifer legally responsible. Court ruled lien valid. She paid $38,000 for work she didn't approve.
The difference: One 5-minute search on how to check for liens on property that Michael's lawyer didn't do.
Here's what's interesting when you know how to check for liens on property: the lien was public the entire time. Michael found it in 5 minutes. Jennifer's lawyer missed it by checking 72 hours too early.
The 3 Lien Types That Haunt Buyers Who Don't Know How to Check for Liens on Property
Three lien types often cause post-purchase financial issues for Canadian property buyers who don't know how to check for liens on property.
LIEN TYPE 1: Construction & Mechanic's Liens
What they are:
- Claims by contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers
- Registered when property owner doesn't pay for work/materials
- Can be registered up to 45 days after work ends (varies by province)
Why they're dangerous:
- Can be registered AFTER you make an offer
- Survive property transfer in many cases
- Take priority over some mortgages
Canadian lien laws:
Ontario: 60-day claim period after work completion BC: 45-day claim period Alberta: 45-day claim period Quebec: Legal hypothecs (similar concept, different system)
Real costs: $12,000 - $200,000 depending on work done
The timing trap: Your offer is February 1. Work finished January 15. Contractor has until March 1 to register lien. Your title search on February 1 shows clean. Lien appears February 20. You close February 28. You're now liable.
Your protection when you know how to check for liens on property: Check again 48 hours before closing.
LIEN TYPE 2: Tax Liens (Municipal & Federal)
What they are:
- Property tax arrears (municipal)
- Income tax debts (CRA liens)
- Utility arrears in some municipalities
Why they're dangerous:
- Tax liens take priority over almost everything
- Often registered without property owner knowing
- Can build up years of interest
Provincial variations:
Ontario: Municipal tax liens take priority over all others BC: Similar priority structure Alberta: Tax liens can trigger tax recovery proceedings Quebec: Municipal and school tax liens have super-priority
Real costs: $5,000 - $80,000+ in accumulated taxes and penalties
The discovery story:
Vancouver buyer bought property. CRA lien registered but not caught in standard search. CRA liens sometimes take 30 days to appear in provincial systems.
Result: $67,000 tax lien found 3 weeks after closing. Buyer responsible.
Here's what's important for how to check for liens on property: CRA liens can be checked directly through Federal registry. But most buyers don't know this system exists separately from provincial land titles.
LIEN TYPE 3: Mortgage & Financial Liens
What they are:
- Outstanding mortgages
- Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)
- Judgment liens from lawsuits
- Mechanics liens that morphed into judgments
Why they're dangerous:
- Multiple mortgages can exist at the same time
- Second mortgages and HELOCs are easy to miss
- Judgment liens from other disputes attach to all property
Real costs: $20,000 - $300,000+
The multiple-mortgage trap:
Scenario: Property has first mortgage ($400K), second mortgage ($80K), private mortgage ($50K). Title search catches first two. Third is registered with private lender's lawyer, not publicly searchable at first.
Discovery timing: Appears in provincial system 2–3 weeks after being registered.
Your closing: Happens in that gap period.
Result: You find $50,000 extra debt after closing.
Here's the real secret for how to check for liens on property: provincial land title systems have update lag times. This means current liens may not appear in searches done more than 48 hours before closing.
The Provincial Search Systems for How to Check for Liens on Property
For budget-friendly search methods, check out our guide on how to check for liens on property for free in Canada.
ONTARIO:
- System: OnLand (government land registry system)
- Cost: Approximately $35-40 for Parcel Register (check current pricing)
- Update lag: 24–48 hours
- Link: Ontario Land Registry
- Official Guide: Ontario.ca Land Registry
BRITISH COLUMBIA:
- System: LTSA (Land Title and Survey Authority)
- Cost: Check current pricing on LTSA website
- Update lag: 24–48 hours
- Link: ltsa.ca
- Search Portal: LTSA Explorer
ALBERTA:
- System: SPIN2 (Spatial Information System) / New ARLO system (as of 2025)
- Cost: Some searches free, detailed searches available
- Update lag: 24–48 hours
- Link: Alberta Land Titles
QUEBEC:
- System: Registre foncier du Québec
- Cost: Variable
- Update lag: 48–72 hours
- Link: registrefoncier.gouv.qc.ca
Other Provinces:
- Manitoba: Manitoba Land Titles
- Saskatchewan: Information Services Corporation (ISC)
- Nova Scotia: Service Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick: Service New Brunswick
Real Estate Deals with Title Insurance Claims Often Involve Liens Not Caught
Title Insurance Claims Insights:
Real estate deals with title insurance claims often involve liens not caught in initial title searches. Many are construction liens registered during the offer-to-closing period. The cost of doing extra lien searches is minimal compared to the potential costs of hidden liens.
You're Probably Thinking: "Isn't This My Lawyer's Job?"
You're probably thinking: "Isn't this my lawyer's job?"
Yes. But lawyers check on a schedule (usually at offer, maybe at closing). Liens can be registered any day. Your lawyer is working on multiple files. You're working on one, your most important financial deal. First-time buyers should also review our first apartment checklist Canada for additional due diligence steps.
The reality: Title searches have timing limits. Liens can be registered between searches. That's why title insurance exists: to provide protection after closing. However, prevention through multiple searches is still valuable.
The Complete How to Check for Liens on Property Strategy
TIMING 1: Pre-Offer (Know What You're Buying Using How to Check for Liens on Property)
- ✅ Run full lien search on property
- ✅ Check municipal tax status
- ✅ Search for recent permits (show possible construction liens)
- ✅ Cost: $10–20
TIMING 2: Conditional Period (How to Check for Liens on Property Again)
- ✅ Re-run lien search
- ✅ Check if new liens registered since offer
- ✅ Review with lawyer
- ✅ Cost: $10–20
TIMING 3: 48 Hours Pre-Closing (Final How to Check for Liens on Property)
- ✅ Final lien search
- ✅ Check CRA federal liens separately
- ✅ Check municipal taxes are current
- ✅ Compare with lawyer's search
- ✅ Cost: $10–20
Total investment: $30-60 Potential savings: $5,000-$200,000+
The Step-by-Step How to Check for Liens on Property Process
For Ontario example on how to check for liens on property:
- Visit Ontario Land Registry Search
- Access through OnLand portal
- Enter property address or Property Identification Number (PIN)
- Purchase Parcel Register (approximately $35-40)
- Review "Instruments" section for liens
- Look for keywords: "lien," "charge," "encumbrance," "construction," "mechanic's"
- Check registration dates carefully
- Screenshot/save results for your records
Red flags:
- Recent records (last 60 days)
- Construction liens (claim or certificate)
- CRA records
- "Notice of" papers (often come before liens)
The Questions for Your Lawyer on How to Check for Liens on Property
- "When was your last title search performed?"
- "Will you do another search 24 hours before closing?"
- "Does title insurance cover liens registered during the transaction period?"
- "Can we add a closing condition for 'no new liens registered'?"
- "Should we check CRA federal liens separately as part of how to check for liens on property?"
Knowing How to Check for Liens on Property Helps Prevent Most Surprises
These how to check for liens on property searches help prevent most post-purchase lien surprises. But one property problem isn't shown by lien checks. It can cause buyers to regret their purchase.
What happens when your lien search comes back clean but building code issues, structural problems, and neighbourhood concerns aren't captured in any lien registry? Use our apartment inspection checklist to identify physical property issues beyond financial encumbrances.
The most thorough lien check confirms financial clarity. But property quality and neighbourhood fit require different checks. The kind that 5-minute AI property analysis reveals before you commit $500,000.
Because a lien-free property is great. A lien-free property in a great location with no hidden issues? That's the complete picture.
Money Saved: $50,000+ average lien surprise by knowing how to check for liens on property Search Cost: $30-60 total (3 searches following how to check for liens on property) ROI: 3,400:1 on prevention Critical Timing: Know how to check for liens on property 48 hours before closing