What is a general power of attorney for selling property?
Short answer
A general power of attorney lets someone act for you in many matters, including property. For a sale, a specific one that names the unit and the act is the safer choice, issued before a notary.
The short answer
A power of attorney is a document in which you, the principal, authorise another person, the agent, to act in your name. In Egypt it is certified before a notary (مكتب التوثيق). A general power of attorney gives the agent wide powers over many matters; a specific one covers only the named acts. For selling a property, the specific one is the safer choice.
What does a general power of attorney cover?
A general power of attorney can cover dealings with banks, government offices, contracts and disputes, all in one document. Because its scope is broad, a buyer or a developer may ask for a more precise document before they accept it for a sale. The wording of the powers matters more than the title printed at the top.
When do you need one?
You need one when you cannot sign the sale contract yourself: you are abroad, you are ill, or you want a person you trust to finish a purchase or a sale for you. Some people also use one to let a relative collect rent or sign handover papers.
What should a sale power of attorney name?
It should name the agent, the unit with its details as they appear on your official papers, and the act: to sell, to receive the price, to sign the contract and to appear before the Real Estate Publicity Department (الشهر العقاري). It should also state whether the agent may accept a price and a payment plan on your behalf. Keep the scope as narrow as the deal requires and no wider.
Can the agent deal with the property in his own name?
Do not give an agent powers to deal with the property for himself or for a relative unless you fully trust that person and the document says so clearly. A limited document with a fixed price and a short validity period protects you from a deal you did not approve.
What should I check before signing?
Read the whole document. Check the names, the national ID numbers, the unit details and the expiry date, and keep a copy. Ask a lawyer to read it, because the wording decides what the agent may do. Never hand over a blank or unsigned document.
How does it relate to the sale contract?
A power of attorney does not replace the contract. The contract still sets the price, the payment plan and the handover terms, and it still has to be registered where the law requires. The question on the registered contract explains that step.
General guidance: check with the official authority before you act.
Updated 31 October 2026