Many Are Mistaken: AJB Is Not Proof of Land Ownership

Many members of the public remain unaware and mistakenly regard the Deed of Sale and Purchase (AJB) as valid proof of land ownership. In reality, this assumption is incorrect.

In property sale and purchase practices, the AJB is indeed an important document as it marks the occurrence of the transaction between the seller and the buyer. However, this document is not the strongest legal proof of land ownership.

Misunderstandings about the AJB often give rise to problems, particularly in cases of land disputes or when the owner wishes to resell the property.

Legal practitioner Adyanisa Septya Yuslandari, S.H., M.Kn, explains that the AJB is an authentic document prepared by the Land Deed Official (PPAT) as evidence that a land or building sale and purchase transaction has taken place.

“The AJB is only proof that a sale and purchase transaction has occurred, not proof of ownership rights,” Adyanisa clarified when contacted on Monday (4/5/2026).

Adyanisa stated that the AJB is one of the important requirements in the process of changing the name on the land certificate at the land office.

Although valid as proof of the sale and purchase transaction, the AJB does not automatically make someone the legal owner of the land under Indonesian agrarian law.

The AJB only records the transfer of rights. Meanwhile, the proof of ownership recognised by law is the land rights certificate that has been registered in the name of the new owner at the National Land Agency (BPN).

“The strong proof of ownership is the land certificate registered with the National Land Agency (BPN). The AJB is merely a transfer of rights,” Adyanisa said.

This means that if someone only holds the AJB without processing the name change on the certificate, their ownership status is not fully secure administratively.

The proof of land ownership that has strong legal force is the land certificate issued by the BPN, such as the Certificate of Ownership (SHM), Certificate of Building Use Rights (SHGB), Certificate of Use Rights, and so on.

These certificates indicate who the official rights holder is over the land based on records held by the state.

After a sale and purchase transaction is conducted and the AJB is issued, the buyer needs to promptly handle the certificate name change process.

This step is important so that the ownership status is officially recorded and to avoid potential legal issues in the future.