Guides / Protecting your property

Someone is living on my property: what you can do from abroad

Protecting your property6 min readLast checked 22 October 2026

First, find out what kind of case it is

The right next step depends on who is there.

• A tenant who has stopped paying or will not leave.
• A relative or caretaker who was allowed in and has stayed on.
• A stranger who moved in or took the plot, sometimes with forged papers.
• Someone who says they bought it from a person who claimed to be you or your agent.

Write down what you know: who, since when, what they say, and who told you.

Steps to take in the first two weeks

1. Do not argue by phone or threaten anyone. Anything you say may be repeated later. Stay polite and short.
2. Collect your own papers. Find your registry, fard, intiqal record, allotment letters, old rent agreements, utility bills and any power of attorney you gave. Scan them and keep copies in two places.
3. Get dated proof of the situation. Photos with the date and place, the front door, the boundary, any new construction, the name on the bell or the gate, the meters. Ask neighbours, politely, who lives there and since when. Write down names and phone numbers.
4. Get a fresh fard. Ask your lawyer or a trusted person to get a current copy, so you know what the record shows today.
5. Hire a local property lawyer. Ask what court or office fits your case, how long it may take, and what it will cost. Ask for fees in writing. Take one lawyer’s advice at a time, and do not sign a new power of attorney until you understand exactly what it lets them do.
6. Keep a diary. Date, what happened, who you spoke to.
7. Report to the police if your lawyer advises it. The Punjab Police run an IGP Complaint Center that takes complaints by SMS or call on the short code 1787, and also online and by email (punjabpolice.gov.pk). Whether the matter is a police one or a court one depends on the facts, so ask your lawyer first.

Why dated, place-stamped proof matters

In a dispute, the question is often "what was there, and when?" Your word from abroad is easy to doubt. A set of photos taken on site on a known date, by someone who can say they took them, is much harder to wave away. Repeat the visit every few weeks to show whether things change. If new rooms go up or new people move in, you want to know early.

Prevention if you rent the property out

The Punjab Police say that under the Punjab Information of Temporary Residents Act 2015, owners, tenants and property dealers must register tenant details with the police. Their page says you can register at the Tenant Registration System website (trs.punjabpolice.gov.pk) or at a police station or Khidmat Markaz, with copies of both CNICs, photos and the rent agreement. A written rent agreement with an end date helps. So do regular visits, so you notice when a tenant stays on or sublets.

What not to do

• Do not use force or hire people to throw the occupant out.
• Do not accept money from a stranger "to settle it" without a lawyer reading what you sign.
• Do not post accusations on social media. It can start a counter case.
• Do not stop paying your property tax and utility bills out of anger. Missed bills can cause new trouble.

Common mistakes

• Waiting years because "the family will sort it out".
• Having no dated photos from before the problem started.
• Giving a very wide power of attorney to the first person who offers help.
• Relying on a cousin who now has a reason to stay quiet.
• Paying a lawyer in cash with no written fee agreement.
• Assuming the occupant has no papers. Ask your lawyer to check what papers they hold.

Urdu glossary

Last checked: 22 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the office or a lawyer before acting.