Kinnistu

Kinnistu is an Estonian term for a unit of immovable property that is registered in the land registry (the kinnistusraamat). It can be a plot of land, a building, or a combination of land and structures, and is identified by a cadastral number.

The concept provides the basis for identifying and regulating ownership, rights, and obligations related to real estate in Estonia. Each kinnistu has an entry in the land register that includes information such as the owner or owners, any rights granted to others (for example mortgages or easements), the area, location and address, and any restrictions or encumbrances that affect the property. The register also records other rights interacting with the kinnistu.

Ownership of a kinnistu is typically transferred through a sale or gift and becomes effective after the change is registered in the land register by a notary and competent authorities. The land register thereby guarantees title and provides public notice of encumbrances.

Kinnistu boundaries can be changed by subdivision or merger, which may result in new or merged cadastral numbers. In multi-unit buildings, individual units can be registered as separate kinnistu entries or as shares tied to the building’s common property, depending on the legal arrangement. The system ensures that ownership, rights, and burdens are clearly recorded and transferable.