Cyprus-Forum.com

[gaiusjulius]

I would be most glad if someone can share what they know about this topic below. Based on my prior internet search about property sales in Cyprus, I understand that there has been a lot of fraudulent activity in the past. Let me just point out that I am only trying to find out what the rules and regulations about the matter below are and do not intend to sell anything over the internet.

My family has recently obtained the deed of a house that originally belonged to my grandparents (and was vacated during the conflict). The property is located in "Old Larnaka" and has two separate homes situated on it. We wish to sell this property but are unsure about the associated paperwork. We have heard that such property (the individuals whose names are presently on the deed are dual citizens of both Northern and Southern Cyprus) can only be sold with government approval, but are not aware of further details. Can anyone please refer me to any sources (unfortunately it has to be in English, as I do not speak any Greek) that explain the process?

If those kinds of resources are absent, would anyone at all be able to briefly explain what the process entails, how long it might take and what kind of fees (except any sales commissions that is) are to be expected?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[B25]

There is no such place as northern cyprus. Only in geographical terms. You are either a citizen of the RoC or not. There is no defined, legal or recognised citizenship of the northern part of the island that is held illegally by occupation troops of turkey.
As to your question, ask at the RoC government offices for the orrect procedures as you will oly get a mish mash of opinions here.

[Jerry]

The problem you have is that TCs who moved to the occupied territory were given GC property in "exchange" for what they left behind in the south. The ROC government is reluctant to facilitate compensating TCs in such cases (double dipping) until a settlement of the Cyprus problem. Your best bet is to find a decent lawyer in the ROC and seek advice. The British High Commission in Nicosia publishes a list of Cypriot lawyers, you can find it on their website.

[GreekIslandGirl]

As far as I'm aware, there have been no RoC ( i.e. legal and Official) "exchanges" of properties so if your grandparents owned the property it is your family property and has not been "exchanged" by the RoC.

BTW - Don't go anywhere with the notion that there are "dual citizenships". There is only the RoC citizenship.

The main hurdle you will meet in selling is that you might have to provide more proof of ownership so that fraudulent activity by TCs wanting to sell is halted. Invariably the RoC will get the blame if later other TCs or their relatives turned up saying it was their home and the RoC sold it without permission.

So contact the local land registry reception and ask to be given the name of an English speaking assistant for deed verification towards selling. They will do all the running around for you to get stamps and verification along the way. These people are not expensive (a few hundred euros worth, probably). But don't involve lawyers until you have gathered as much information from the free advisory services of the RoC first - otherwise lawyers fees are huge!

[Jerry]

Good luck with the Land Registry, they took four years to transfer the title deeds of my late father's property to myself, our lawyer ( a distant relative) was a highly regarded advocate and judge.

Many solicitors charge excessive fees, some of those on the HC list are members of the UK Law society, they tend to be better qualified and more honest in what they charge.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Jerry, that's why I suggested they ask for one of those assistants (they have a special name and I've forgotten what it is - will ask someone later). They know which doors to knock on and who to get a signature from and they get the job done much faster than if you are trying to sort it out yourself from afar.

Also, I didn't say the lawyers were not well qualified or dishonest - I just said they were expensive and that goes for the British ones who have gone to Cyprus to exploit the fear evryone has of "Cypriot lawyers".

ALL lawyers are expensive in my unfortunate humble experience. British and Cypriot - and I find that it's important to get as much information yourself before instructing them - even (and especially most recently, imho) lawyers in the UK.

[B25]

(they have a special name and I've forgotten what it is - will ask someone later).

Dikolavos is what those agents are called.

@jerry

We had land in the occupied transferred in a matter of a few weeks, and this was bacause we still had to get a tax clearance. Each case differs. If you father had passed then of ourse it would have taken much longer. But i agree 4 years was excesive.

[gaiusjulius]

Thank you very much to all for the input.

"The main hurdle you will meet in selling is that you might have to provide more proof of ownership so that fraudulent activity by TCs wanting to sell is halted. Invariably the RoC will get the blame if later other TCs or their relatives turned up saying it was their home and the RoC sold it without permission.

So contact the local land registry reception and ask to be given the name of an English speaking assistant for deed verification towards selling."

I am just a little confused here. For this particular property, we have not yet obtained the deed. However, we were told to go and check very soon (within a few weeks) and obtain the deed, if ready. The work that has gone into this was quite labor-intensive and lasted a few years already.

Once we are given a deed, is there any additional procedure necessary to be able to sell the property? Is there an additional process called "deed verification towards selling" that you go through, once you have the deed in hand? Or will the "deed verification towards selling" have been performed prior to obtaining the deed?

Thanks a lot

[cbouissou]

Hello,

i'm a journalist based in Cyprus and i'm interested in that topic. I've discussed it with a few "officials" but i'd really like to talk to people 'really' confronted to the problem i.e. having a property in the north that they want - or don't want - to sell. Do you know anyone in that situation ? Thanks in advance for any kind of help. C.

[B25]

Hello,

i'm a journalist based in Cyprus and i'm interested in that topic. I've discussed it with a few "officials" but i'd really like to talk to people 'really' confronted to the problem i.e. having a property in the north that they want - or don't want - to sell. Do you know anyone in that situation ? Thanks in advance for any kind of help. C.

There 200,000 of them who want their properties back. Perhaps you would like to ask anyone if them. Then ask the Turkish authorities why they haven't return the lands as called for in umpteen UN Resolutions. Then ask the corrupt ECHR that gave power to the illegal occupation regime to decide on each persons property. Jesus, it is like putting the rapist in the judges seat to hear his victims case FFS.
As a journalist your research sucks.