Buying property from a power of attorney (GPA) holder in Andhra Pradesh: Vizag, Vijayawada checks
Short answer: in Andhra Pradesh, an agent can sign a sale deed for the owner under a power of attorney, but only within the powers written in it and only while it is still alive. Under the Indian Contract Act an agency ends when the owner revokes it or dies (section 201), except where the agent holds an interest in the property (section 202). The AP Registration Department's IGRS home page (read 24 Oct 2026) prices a POA "for construction / development or sale or transfer in any manner" of property at Rs.1,000 stamp duty when given to a family member and 1% of market value when given to anyone else, and a POA "given for consideration" at 4% on consideration. Check the type, the powers and that the owner still stands behind it before you pay.
Who this is for: buyers in Vizag, Vijayawada, Guntur and Tirupati dealing with an agent for an NRI, elderly or absent owner. See also our AP guide for owners giving a POA.
What the official pages say (Andhra Pradesh)
| Point | Official source and what it says | Status |
|---|---|---|
| POA to sell, family member | IGRS duty table row 43: stamp duty Rs.1,000; registration fee 0.5% (minimum Rs.1,000, maximum Rs.20,000); user charges Rs.200. | Read 24 Oct 2026 |
| POA to sell, non-family | Row 44: stamp duty 1% on market value; registration fee 0.5% (minimum Rs.1,000, maximum Rs.20,000). | Read 24 Oct 2026 |
| POA given for consideration | Row 46: stamp duty 4% on consideration; registration fee 0.5% (minimum Rs.1,000, maximum Rs.20,000). If the agent paid the owner for the POA, this is the row that fits, and the stamp duty actually paid is a useful clue to what kind of POA it is. | Read 24 Oct 2026 (the "clue" is our reading) |
| Other POAs | Row 45: POA "for other purpose" Rs.50 stamp duty; row 47: Special Power of Attorney Rs.20. A POA stamped at these rates was probably not written as a power to sell. Read the text to be sure. | Read 24 Oct 2026 (inference ours) |
| Cancelling a deed | Row 15: Cancellation Deed, stamp duty Rs.30, registration fee Rs.1,000. Whether every POA revocation in AP is registered this way is not stated. | To verify |
| Attestation | Registration Act section 33: a POA used to present a document must be executed before and authenticated by the Registrar or Sub-Registrar where the owner lives (owner in India), or by a Notary, court, Magistrate or Indian Consul (owner abroad). Read on a mirror of the Act, not the official PDF. | Text read 24 Oct 2026; to verify on India Code |
| Will an EC show the POA? | Section 57 of the Registration Act gives copies of Book 4 entries only to the parties or their agents. Which book an AP POA to sell is filed in, and whether it appears in an EC search, is not stated on IGRS. | To verify at the Sub-Registrar office |
Buyer: six checks before you pay a POA holder in Vizag or Vijayawada
- Ask which IGRS row the POA was stamped under. Rs.1,000 (family) or 1% (non-family) suggests a power to sell; Rs.50 or Rs.20 suggests something narrower. 4% on consideration suggests the agent paid for it and may claim an interest.
- Match the schedule. Survey number, sub-division, extent and boundaries in the POA must match the plot or flat, and the powers must include sale and signing the sale deed.
- Check the attestation: Sub-Registrar for an owner in India; Notary, Consul or court for an owner abroad, with stamp duty paid after it reached India.
- Ask for a fresh CC (official copy from the Sub-Registrar) through the owner or agent, since a buyer may not get Book 4 copies directly, and compare it with the original.
- Talk to the owner. A POA ends on death or revocation. A short video call plus a signed, dated confirmation of price and terms costs nothing and closes the biggest gap.
- Pay into the owner's account unless the POA clearly lets the agent receive money. Then run the EC, 22-A prohibited list and court case checks as usual.
Common mistake: trusting the word "irrevocable" on the cover. Section 202 protects an agent only where the agent has an interest in the property itself. A POA that just says "irrevocable" can still end on the owner's death. Don't accept the label; ask your lawyer to read the whole document.
Related guides
- Copy of a registered document (CC)
- Agreement of sale vs sale deed
- Court case check on the property or seller
- Buying from an NRI seller: TDS
Property in Telangana? See the Telangana guide to buying from a POA holder.
Not legal advice. This page summarises official pages read on 24 Oct 2026, with unconfirmed items marked "to verify". The Registration Department, the Sub-Registrar and the courts have the final word. Ask a property lawyer to read the power of attorney before you pay.
A free sample from our Andhra Pradesh property do-it-yourself pack: which papers to ask for, which portal to open, and in what order, so the agent's authority is checked before any money moves.
Get it free (instant download)FAQ
What is the stamp duty on a GPA to sell property in Andhra Pradesh?
IGRS AP lists Rs.1,000 for a family member and 1% of market value for others, with registration fee 0.5% (min Rs.1,000, max Rs.20,000). A POA given for consideration is 4% on consideration.
Can an agent sell after the owner dies?
Under section 201 of the Indian Contract Act an agency ends on the principal's death, unless section 202 applies because the agent has an interest in the property. Ask a lawyer if the POA claims such an interest.
How do I know the POA was not cancelled?
No public online check for this appeared on IGRS today. Speak to the owner directly, get a fresh CC (official copy from the Sub-Registrar) through the owner or agent, and ask the Sub-Registrar office (to verify).
Is a Special Power of Attorney enough to sell a flat?
It can be, if it covers selling that flat and signing and presenting the sale deed. IGRS charges Rs.20 stamp duty on an SPA, so read its text carefully.
Who should receive the sale money?
Safest is the owner's own bank account, unless the POA expressly authorises the agent to receive the price.
Official sources
- IGRS Andhra Pradesh duty table (POA rows 43-47, cancellation row 15)
- Registration Act 1908 s.33 (mirror)
Not legal advice. We don't check properties or certify ads. A lawyer must confirm title, and the Authority's own notices override anything on this page.