What does a freehold (tamleek) apartment mean, and is it registered?

What does "freehold" mean?

In Egypt, a freehold unit (تمليك) is one you own outright. Your name goes on the ownership record, and you may sell it, leave it to your heirs, or rent it out within the rules of the compound. This is different from a usufruct arrangement (حق الانتفاع), where you hold the right to use a property for a set number of years while ownership stays with someone else.

The word matters when you read an offer. Some listings say "freehold" and others describe a long lease. Read the clause that names the right you are buying, and check that it matches what the seller promised in writing.

Does freehold mean the unit is registered?

No. Freehold describes the type of right; registration describes the public record. A unit can be sold as freehold in the contract and still be unregistered if the sale was never recorded at the Real Estate Publicity Department (مصلحة الشهر العقاري). Under Law No. 114 of 1946 on Real Estate Publicity, Article 9, transactions that create, transfer, change or end a real right must be recorded, and they bind third parties only from the date of recording.

How do I check that my unit is registered?

Ask for the registered contract and the date or number of its recording. Ask the developer, in writing, when the units of the project are recorded, and what happens if that date passes without action. Before you pay the final instalment, make sure the registration steps are complete, or that they are scheduled with a document you can hold.

What should I keep in my file?

Keep the signed reservation form, the sale contract, every payment receipt, and any registration certificate. Compare the unit number, the floor and the area across all of them. A difference found on the day you sign costs far less to correct than one found after handover.

General guidance — check with the official authority before you act.