When a real estate agent refuses to disclose the owner of a property you love, it’s normal to begin batting eyebrows.
However, that’s actually the time to treat the situation as a problem to solve, not a polite mystery.
This is especially peculiar if you are a buyer or investor frustrated by opaque dealings from agents, or you’re interested in unlisted or off-market properties and want to contact the true owner.
But first, let’s understand the possible root causes.
Why Real Estate Agents May Not Reveal Property Owner
Here are some common reasons agents may withhold the actual property owner’s identity:
- Control of negotiations: They want all communications to pass through them so they can control the terms, price discussions, and pace of the deal.
- Fear of being bypassed: Perhaps the agents worry that you might approach the owner directly, thereby cutting them out of their commission.
- Maintaining exclusivity: If they have an exclusive listing, they keep the owner’s details private to protect their competitive advantage over other agents.
- Privacy for the owner: Some property owners prefer anonymity to avoid unsolicited calls, visits, or harassment. Many public figures, including celebrities, fall into this category.
- Preventing conflicting information: They want to avoid situations where the owner gives different prices, terms, or descriptions from what they’ve told prospects.
Regardless of the intent behind concealing the actual property owner, there are proven methods to uncover the truth.
READ ALSO: 10 Real Estate Mistakes to Avoid as a First-Time Buyer in Lagos
10 Ways To Find Property Owners When Agents Hide Them
Use these in sequence: start with the agent, then escalate to records, neighbours, and professional checks if you still get stonewalled.
1. Ask the agent, firmly and with reasons
Begin by telling the agent why you need the owner’s identity. Is it to verify the title? Request a letter of authority? Or arrange a meeting for inspection?
Ask to see a signed mandate or power of attorney that authorises them to market the property.
In my experience, an honest agent will produce a one-page authority within a day.
If they refuse and give vague answers, that’s an immediate red flag: either they don’t have authority, or there’s something to hide.
2. Request to see the original title documents
Tell the agent you need to inspect originals or certified copies of the Certificate of Occupancy, Deed of Assignment, allocation letter, or release document. The owner’s name appears on these documents.
In one transaction I handled, the agent initially offered only phone photos.
When the client insisted on seeing the original Certificate of Ownership (C of O), the agent produced it, and we discovered that the name on the document did not match the person who claimed to be the owner.
The deal stopped right there.
3. Do an official Land Registry search
If the property is land, take the plot description or survey number to the State Land Registry (for Lagos, the Lagos State Land Registry) and request a search.
The registry’s official extract will show the registered owner, date of registration, and any mortgages or caveats.
This is the single most reliable public check and will quickly reveal undisclosed encumbrances.
Expect a small fee and a few days’ turnaround depending on the state.
4. Verify the survey plan at the Surveyor-General
Ask the agent for the survey plan number and visit the Surveyor-General’s office to confirm the plan’s lodgement and the registered owner.
A mismatched plan or non-existent lodgement is a classic sign of fraud.
5. Ask neighbours, caretakers, and Baale (local leaders)
Walk to the area of the property, speak to the gatehouse, nearby shop owners, the estate or LGA chairman, or the caretaker.
In one Surulere case, the neighbor gave a phone number that led straight to the owner (information the agent had been unwilling to share).
Local people often know the owner who built it, or which developer bought the land.
6. Check local government tax records and rates receipts
Local government rate or land use tax receipts are usually named after the person paying the rates for that plot.
A visit to the ward or local government office can reveal who has historically paid rates.
7. Search corporate records if a company claims ownership
If the agent says a company owns the land, run a CAC extract to see the directors, registered address, and authorised signatories.
Then request the company’s board resolution authorising the sale.
I’ve seen companies list properties and later claim that the marketing agent overstated their authority; the CAC extract and a signed board resolution quickly resolve that issue.
8. Ask to see utility or service documents
Request to see recent utility receipts or invoices (electricity meter number, water board receipts) linked to the property.
While you shouldn’t demand private bills, any responsible owner or authorised agent can show a recent payment stub or meter number to prove connection and the name on the account.
In practice, a meter account in someone else’s name flags a mismatch you should investigate.
9. Hire a lawyer or licensed estate surveyor to run due diligence
When agents refuse, have your lawyer issue a formal search warrant and demand the original documents.
Lawyers can place caveats, lodge notices, or obtain certified searches from the registry on your behalf. Licensed surveyors can verify beacons and coordinates on site and produce a professional report.
I always recommend retaining both: a lawyer will protect legal title, while a surveyor will confirm that the plot physically exists where claimed.
10. Use open-source intelligence: online listings and social media
Search the property address, images, and listing text across property portals, Facebook groups, Instagram, and Google Maps.
You can even reverse-image older photos and check who originally posted the ad (tools like inVID help to achieve this).
Often, the owner’s or their company’s name appears in earlier advertisements or payment receipts.
Final Note
When you find yourself in a situation where the actual owner’s identity is being concealed, it’s better to never pay a large deposit into a personal account without escrow or your lawyer holding the funds.
If the agent uses pressure tactics, such as “cash now only,” “today-only discount,” or refusal to meet the owner in the presence of your lawyer, step back.
Perhaps, the biggest red flag of all is when names on title documents don’t match IDs provided, and when the agent refuses any verifiable paperwork.
