💬 Power of attorney for my Hyderabad flat, cousin handled it but I still worry

A couple of years ago I gave my cousin power of attorney for my flat in Hyderabad. I live in Riyadh and can't deal with tenants, repairs and the association from here. He's been good. He sends photos when something breaks and tells me when a tenant changes. In 2 years he's never given me a reason to doubt him. Still, there's a worry at the back of my head. That paper lets him do a lot. I trust him completely and it still makes me uneasy. A lawyer friend told me to get it registered, not just notarised, so I did that at the start. He said a registered one is harder to argue with later. That helped a little. Every year I go through the same thinking. Maybe I should just sell and keep life simple. Then I think of it as my place to retire to, and I want to keep it. The rent covers some costs, not all. Every time I almost decide, my cousin sends a photo of the building and I stall again. Is this normal for people who own property back home? How do you keep an eye on a place you visit once a year? And if you sold, did the worry go away or did you miss the flat?

I felt the same worry with my parents' plot. What calmed me was a long chat with my lawyer. He went through the document line by line and told me what it allowed and what it didn't. It cost a small fee and took away most of my worry. I also keep a certified copy for myself. Worth asking whether yours is a general one or limited to certain jobs.

The tenant part would worry me most. Checking a new tenant or sorting out a dispute is hard over the phone. Has your cousin had to deal with anything difficult like that yet?

I go back and forth on selling too. Most years the rent barely covers maintenance and property tax, especially when the flat sits empty between tenants.

I renew mine every three years instead of leaving it open. It's a good time to check everything, and easy to cancel if something feels off.

My uncle gave a general power of attorney to a neighbour he trusted, years ago. It was later used to sell a plot, and nobody in the family knew until the new owner came asking about the boundary wall.

I went with a registered special power of attorney instead of a general one for this reason. My brother in law can only do what's written in it, managing tenants and approving repairs, not selling or mortgaging. The registration cost a bit more but it gave me peace of mind.