The situation: A buyer pays the full price for a second-hand flat and takes the keys but delays the formal 'title transfer,' then the seller sells the same flat to a second buyer who registers it in his name.
Applicable law: For real estate, ownership passes not by contract or payment but by 'registration' in the property register. Whoever registers first prevails as owner against a good-faith third party. Payment gives a contractual claim, but does not make you owner before registration.
Outcome: The second (registered) buyer became owner, leaving the first only to sue the seller for breach compensation — a far harder battle.
🏠 Housing & rent · Awareness case
Property Ownership Transfers by Registration, Not Payment · Yalla China
🤝 Governing law: 民法典（物权编）/ Civil Code (Property Rights)
You paid the full price — are you truly the owner now?
Illustrative, general educational examples — not real specific facts and not legal advice; for awareness only. For an actual situation, consult a licensed lawyer.
🎓 The lesson / takeaway
Lesson: Keys and a receipt aren't enough — ownership is completed by registration. Do the title transfer immediately after paying.
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026