How can you find out who the owner of a house is?

We have some specialists here...

Who can give advice on how to find out who the owner of this or that house is?

I am concerned with a rental/purchase matter of a building. It is not listed anywhere etc., but has been vacant for several years (I know this because I pass by it daily).

The unit on the ground floor is rented. However, the tenant is stubborn and unwilling to provide any information. Despite polite inquiries.

So how do you get the name and address of the owner?

The Holy Grail is the land registry office. Without a legitimate interest, you won’t get any further there unless you belong to a certain profession (or are acquainted with someone from such a profession *dumdidum*). Check Wikipedia for land registry inspection. But it doesn’t cost anything to try.

If the tenant doesn’t reveal anything, ask the neighbors. Not just the immediate ones, but also a few houses further away (especially the older generation has a good memory for such things). In apartment buildings, it can help to get into the stairwell, where there are often notices, caretaker contacts, etc.

Otherwise, it really gets difficult ...

Inspection of the land register

Wikipedia explains it well.

The problem is proving the required "legitimate interest"....

So neighbors etc. I was already there...that all leads nowhere since the whole house is empty. So you can’t even get into the stairwell and there is nothing to find out about the house next door either.

So off to the land registry office.

With us, it's called the Katasteramt :D

We have both here...