Cyprus-Forum.com

[MeyyaMeyya]

H All,

I hope someone out there may be able to point me in the right direction.

My wife's Father has recently passed away (with no will and no partner surviving) he always spoke of some land the family owned in Cyprus, but my wife had never seen any paperwork to confirm this.

Just two days ago we discovered a document which appeared to be a deed for the land. A friend at work did a rough translation, and it seems it is for a plot is in the Nicosia district. The document is dated 1971 and has plot and plan details on it too.

This document says the land is still registered to my wife's Grandfather (who had British nationality). I also believe my wife's Grandfather had no will, and there was no mention in my wife's Grandmother's will regarding any land abroad.

So I guess I have two questions - firstly how do you start to find out information about the land? Has the plot numbering and so on changed since 1971? Second, does anyone have any ideas about the inheritance of the land, would it be dealt with by UK or CY law?

Sorry this post is a bit long winded but any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks,

David.

[bill cobbett]

Welcome to CF David,

When you say Nicosia District, occupied part or within the Free Areas?

[MeyyaMeyya]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the welcome and reply!

The Village is Lympia, I took a big breath when I looked at the map and saw the boundary lines . . . I seem to remember my Father in law said it is in the free area.

Thanks,
David

[bill cobbett]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the welcome and reply!

The Village is Lympia, I took a big breath when I looked at the map and saw the boundary lines . . . I seem to remember my Father in law said it is in the free area.

Thanks,
David

Can confirm that almost all of Lymbia village lies in the Free Areas. A small part is in the Buffer Zone and believe an even smaller part has been stolen by the neighbouring, thieving, tc Loorigians.

It is (just) in Nicosia District.

Lack of a will does complicate things, so be warned the bureaucracy will take time to resolve things.

The good news is that you having the deeds (kochans) makes things a little easier. Normally the plot boundaries will not have changed in generations, so your plans will still be valid.

Here is my suggestion .... (on which others may like to comment)....

You will need to present your paperwork together with such things as death certificates to the Nicosia Land Registry Department. Any paperwork that doesn't originate from the Republic will have to be stamped by a Notary in GB as being authentic, also as well to have them stamped at the CY High Commission in London.

Anyone with an interest in the land and who can't make the journey will have to also make over powers of attorney to whoever goes to the Land Registry.

The Nicosia Land Registry is at
21 Acheon Street
1459 Nicosia
CY
Tel 22400600 and 22400681

Suggest you phone and/or write to them for more info on your options.

Anyone else with advice for our new member???

[MeyyaMeyya]

Hi Bill,

It was all a little bemusing. Thanks so much for the information, it will give me a good place to start.

David

[bill cobbett]

Hi Bill,

It was all a little bemusing. Thanks so much for the information, it will give me a good place to start.

I was just looking at the Department of Lands and Surveys section on the Ministry of Information website, where I think you can download the cadastral maps. It just asks you for which series, Cassini or LTM together with a scale, and also a "Plan name". I've tried a lot of combinations from the Deed with no luck.

I wonder if you or anyone have any ideas how this system works and what I shoudl be typing in?

many thanks once again,

David

Yes, tried that system a few times and like you without success.

Might be an idea to send the Nic Land Registry an email, setting out your case in some detail, sure they'll give you further help and perhaps a contact/case officer to seek out when you go or help you out over the phone.

One more thing, just remembered, no transfer can take place 'till all outstanding local taxes have been paid, so you'll have to go and see the Muhtar (mayor) of Lymbia, pay any due and get receipt of payment for inspection by Land Reg.

[annaka]

The mayor of Lymbia has a record of land ownership in his office as we needed to check this several years ago and in the end we left it as it was on a slope as far as we could see and too many other people with a claim.

However, it may be a good idea to try the Land Registry in Nicosia first as they have modernised their office and queue-jumping is a bit better controlled now. We used to go there prepared for a couple of hours' waiting and fending off the people who jumped in front of us and it was a case of who had the loudest voice whilst claiming to be the koumbaros of the poor clerk who most likely didn't know him from Adam.

It is time-consuming, but another thing I would mention, outside the Land Registry are agents with their desks and chairs, who for a small fee are willing to fill out the necessary application forms and are usually ex-employees or retired workers and know the system and often took us to the actual office we needed.

Good Luck, regards,

Annaka.

[MeyyaMeyya]

Hi Annaka,

Many thanks your your advice. I got my friend to telephone the DLO in Nicosia, and had confirmation that the plot in question was in the non-free area I'm hoping his friend may be able to go into the DLO and get a copy of the map where the exact location is. I think we will be in Egypt in the not too distant future, so maybe easier to travel to Cyprus and do what you suggested while we are there in person

Kind regards,

David

[annaka]

You mention that your deed is in the "non-free area" and am wondering if it is taken by Louroudjina which is a military Turkish base and tightly monitored. My husband's mother came from Louroudjina and I know that the Greek Cypriot members of the family are not able to visit their old village. The mayor in Lymbia told us several years ago that they did have photocopies of the land in Louroudjina, but whether they still exist is anybody's guess.

There is also a large UN base there which may also be a "No Entry" area for anybody.

If your land is in the Free Area of Lymbia, then you should have no problem. You will have to apply for birth certificate of the named person on the deed as well as provide a death certificate.

Regards,
Annaka

[B25]

For land in the occpupied areas, you should declare your interest otherwise someone else will. If there is any solution, don't hold your breath, or any compo to be paid you will lose out.

Good luck