Act promptly and record the position. Ask a trusted person to photograph the site, note any new boundary walls or structures and collect copies of your deed, khatian, mutation record and tax receipts. Do not confront occupiers yourself, as that can escalate matters. We then assess whether to file a criminal complaint, seek an urgent injunction, apply under the Land Crime Prevention and Remedy Act 2023 or bring a civil suit for recovery of possession. A properly drafted power of attorney allows us to proceed without your repeated travel to Bangladesh.

It varies widely. An urgent injunction application can be heard within days or weeks, but a contested title suit can take several years at first instance, and appeals add further time. Delay is one of the main costs of real estate disputes, so we look for ways to narrow the issues, obtain useful interim orders and use mediation or negotiation when the other side has a genuine interest in settlement. We give clients a realistic picture at the start rather than an optimistic timetable. Early, accurate pleadings help keep the case moving. We also report progress at every hearing.

Possibly, but it depends on the sale agreement, the payments made, the reasons for delay and whether the project is likely to be completed. Many agreements contain a handover date, a grace period and a compensation clause, and some require arbitration first. We review the documents, the project's approval status and the developer's position, then advise whether to press for completion, negotiate compensation or seek a refund. Collective action through a buyers' group can sometimes add useful leverage in real estate disputes of this kind. We also check the developer's other liabilities.

Not necessarily. Record of rights entries are important evidence of possession and title, but they do not by themselves create ownership, and errors are common, particularly between successive surveys. The answer depends on the registered deeds, the chain of inheritance and who actually possesses the land. Some errors can be corrected through the Land Survey Tribunal or by application to the land office. We identify the right forum early, because many real estate disputes are made more difficult by filing in the wrong place. Correcting it can strengthen your position in later real estate disputes.

Sometimes. A landowner may have grounds where the developer has failed to start or complete work within agreed periods, breached payment obligations or sold flats beyond its allocation. But termination must follow the agreement and the law, and any registered power of attorney given to the developer needs separate attention. A poorly handled termination can expose the landowner to a counterclaim. We review the agreement, the construction status and third-party buyers' rights before recommending a route, which may include arbitration or a suit. Third-party buyers often complicate real estate disputes of this type.

Courts can grant temporary injunctions restraining transfer, construction or dispossession while the case proceeds, and in some circumstances can appoint a receiver or order the status quo to be maintained. To obtain an injunction, the applicant generally needs to show a prima facie case, a risk of irreparable harm and that the balance of convenience favours relief. Clear documents and prompt action make a significant difference. We also consider registering a notice of the dispute with relevant offices to discourage further transfers. Relief is discretionary, so candour with the court is essential.

The Commercial Courts Act 2026 creates a specialised forum for defined commercial disputes. Whether a particular property matter falls within it depends on the nature of the claim, the parties and the definitions in the Act, which should be checked against the facts. A dispute about a commercial lease, a construction contract or an investment in a development may be treated differently from a family partition suit. We assess jurisdiction at the outset, because filing in the correct court avoids transfers and delay later. We keep this under review as the new courts begin work.

Yes, where the parties have agreed to it and the dispute is of a kind that can be arbitrated. Developer agreements, commercial leases and investment documents often contain arbitration clauses, and the Arbitration Act 2001 governs the process. Disputes about title that affect third parties, or matters reserved to particular courts or tribunals, are less suited to arbitration. We advise on whether a clause applies, whether to rely on it or challenge it, and how an award would later be enforced against the land or the other party. Check the other party's assets and title records before starting.