When purchasing a property in British Columbia, most lenders require either a Survey Certificate or Title Insurance before they release mortgage funds. Understanding the difference between these two can help avoid delays during closing.

What Is a Survey Certificate?

A Survey Certificate is prepared by a licensed land surveyor and shows:

• property boundaries
• building locations
• encroachments (if any)
• compliance with municipal setback requirements

Because it confirms the physical layout of the property, lenders sometimes request an updated survey before approving financing. The cost depends on the property type and location.

What Is Title Insurance?

Title Insurance is often accepted instead of a Survey Certificate, and sometimes in addition to one.

It protects both the buyer and the lender against potential title-related issues that may not be immediately visible, such as:

• boundary disputes
• title defects
• registration errors
• encroachments
• fraud or title transfer issues

Instead of verifying boundaries directly, title insurance provides financial protection if problems arise later.

Which One Do You Need?

In many residential transactions today, lenders commonly accept Title Insurance as a practical alternative to obtaining a new survey.

However, requirements may vary depending on:

• lender policies
• property type
• age of existing survey documents
• location of the property

Your notary or lawyer will usually confirm which option is required for your transaction.

If you are unsure whether your purchase requires a Survey Certificate or Title Insurance, Philip and the team here and KC Notary & Co. can provide guidance and help ensure your completion date proceeds smoothly.