Buying
Are, m² and how land gets mis-sold in Bali
One are is 100 m². Most disputes start with a unit, a fence, or an old survey.
Updated 21 September 2026 · 1 min read
Why the fence is not the boundary
Boundaries in Bali are often marked by walls, hedges or nothing at all, and have frequently been rebuilt since the last survey. Sellers rarely mislead deliberately; they usually believe the fence is the line because it has been there for years. The land office certificate is the authority, and a current survey is the only way to reconcile the two before you own the problem.
Common questions
How many square metres is one are?
100 m². A 5-are plot is 500 m².
What if the survey is smaller than advertised?
Renegotiate on the surveyed area or walk. Paying for land the certificate does not grant you is the most common avoidable loss in Bali land purchases.