Conversely, if Britain was wiser it could take steps to protect its subjects from being abused by Turkey in this way. The UK should take this little matter up with Ankara.
Someone should maybe take it up with the Estate Agents who are STILL putting a load of misinformation on their websites encouraging people to buy in the North.
An example here from PropertyCyprusSales.com (one of many many - too many to list them all)
NORTH CYPRUS PROPERTIES WITH TRNC TITLE
Esdeger Title North Cyprus Properties (Better known as EXCHANGE title deed North Cyprus Properties)
The North Cyprus property with TRNC Title Deed was previously Greek Cypriot owned prior to 1974. Again there are a number of checks to be carried out by the Council of Ministers, which means the sale will take approx. 6-12 months to complete. When the Turkish Cypriot refugees came to the safety of the north after July 1974, they left all their possessions behind in the south. Accordingly, the Government then assessed on a points basis, the value of the refugee's forsaken assets in the south. With these points, the Turkish Cypriot refugee could take a relinquished Greek Cypriot house or land in compensation for his lost properties.
Under the Annan Plan there is almost complete protection for an owner of Esdeger title. A foreign person purchasing Esdeger Title North Cyprus property is considered to be in exactly the same position as the original Turkish Cypriot refugee who swapped his land post-1974. Therefore the Annan Plan expressly acknowledges there can be legitimate dealings in such title.
The first protection is that a current owner, including a foreigner, cannot lose Esdeger land to the Greek Cypriot who owned it pre-1974 if its value does not exceed the value of the land the Turkish Cypriot left in the south in 1974 by more than 50%. The second protection is that a current owner cannot lose Esdeger land if it has been "substantially improved" since 1974. This includes the construction of a building. The purchase of a house built on such land since 1974 is therefore automatically protected.
And, if you contact them (using their 'contact us' facility, and point out to them politely that this info might need updating in the light of the recent Orams decision, what happens is ... they DO NOT REPLY.
Having just read the thread on CY44, it is obvious that those posting have absolutely no idea what day it is let alone the status of land!
Amen to that, and amen also to some of the hare brained ideas they come up with for the ex pat Brits to 'protect' themselves.
