Cadaster and land register harmonization in Poland and Ukraine

Abstract This study presents an analysis of the functioning of real estate data registration systems in Poland and Ukraine, with a particular focus on the registration of property rights. It examines the historical development of these systems, their current structures, and the existing mechanisms for data exchange between them. The analysis also identifies key challenges related to interoperability and data consistency. The investigation revealed that in Poland, the real estate cadastre and the land register operate as separate systems under the authority of different institutions, despite recording overlapping information. To address issues of data integration, the Integrated Real Estate Information System was introduced to enable the exchange and verification of data between these registers and other public databases. In Ukraine, three independent systems manage real estate data: the State Land Cadastre, the State Register of Real Rights, and the archival records maintained by the Bureau of Technical Inventory (BTI). This fragmentation undermines the completeness and reliability of real estate information, complicating administrative procedures. The findings of this study highlight the urgent need to develop comprehensive legal frameworks and implement advanced technical solutions in both countries to reconcile discrepancies across real estate registers. The research also points to the substantial potential of integrated information systems to deliver accurate, consistent, and up-to-date property data. Empowering such systems with appropriate legal authority and functional capabilities would significantly improve the reliability, transparency, and efficiency of real estate information management.