This is property that prior to and at the time of the conflict and separation was owned by a Turkish Cypriot. This type of title deed is internationally recognised and is considered to be absolutely safe to purchase.

 

TRNC title deed of which there are two different types:

1. ESDEGER (pronounced eshter)

   This is property that prior to and at the time of the conflict and separation was owned by a Greek Cypriot but after the conflict was allocated to a Turkish Cypriot. This type of title deed was issued to Turkish Cypriots using a government backed points system to determine either the type of, and or, the amount of land or property that was allocated to them. The points were allocated to the Turkish Cypriots by the government, the amount being based upon the amount and type of property that they had been forced to leave behind in Southern Cyprus. The title deeds for their former property in the South were handed to the Turkish Cypriot government who are holding on to them pending a settlement to the Cyprus problem being reached. The general opinion of most is that this type of title deed is safe to buy because a settlement of the Cyprus issue will take place at governmental level and that it will include some form of compensation being paid to the former owners of the property and that this arrangement is backed by the security of the title deeds that are being held by the government and further, that the negotations in respect of this will be carried out at governmental level without the involvement of the dispossessed owner or current person in possession of the property

2. TMD, TAHSIS (pronounced tashis)

   This is property that prior to and at the time of the conflict and separation was owned by a Greek Cypriot but after the conflict was allocated to a Turkish Cypriot or Turkish citizen. This type of title deed was issued using a government backed points system to determine either the type of, and or, the amount of land or property that was allocated to them. The points were allocated as compensation to the families of the soldiers who had been killed during the fighting to save the Turkish Cypriot people. The general opinion of most is that purchasing this type of title deed carries the risk of compensation having to be paid to the former owner of the land and that, as there is no title deed with the Turkish Cypriot government, payment of this compensation may have to be made by the current person in possession of the property. Subject to the terms of settlement of the Cyprus problem, there is also the possibility of the original owners making a claim for the return of the property.

This is property that prior to and at the time of the conflict and separation was owned by someone other than a Greek or Turkish Cypriot, (eg. British, German, Dutch etc.) This type of title deed is internationally recognised and is considered to be absolutely safe to purchase.

This is property that was in the possession of the government who granted a long term forty nine year lease. You can apply directly or through a solicitor to the Ministry of Tourism for a transfer of the lease.

• When decided on a property, agree a price.
• Arrange a meeting with your appointed solicitor who will draw up contracts stating the terms of the sale i.e: price, timescale, vendors & purchasers details, stage payments etc.
• When both parties are happy both vendor & purchaser sign the contract.
• Purchaser pays a deposit
• Purchase permit is applied for by your solicitor to the Council of Ministers which takes approximately 12 months once the purchase permit has been received the remaining balance is due from purchaser.
• When vendor receives the final payment the Title deeds will be signed into the purchaser name and the sale is officially completed.

To purchase a property (immovable) in Northern Cyprus, a non-Turkish Cypriot must obtain a purchasing permit from the Council of Ministers. This process involves making a formal written application. This can be carried out by yourself personally or by a solicitor on your behalf.

During the process of issuing a purchase permit, various checks are made into the background of the individuals making the application. There are several reasons why a purchasing permit could be refused, one of which is if an applicant has a criminal record.

Non-Turkish Cypriot purchasers of property (land or buildings) are restricted in the amount of immovable property that they can buy in North Cyprus. For the purposes of property purchase, husband and wife with the same surname, count as one person and therefore, do not qualify to buy double. However, sons and daughters with the same surname (over the age of eighteen) are also allowed to purchase up to the aforementioned allocation.

Current rules allow non-Turkish Cypriots to purchase and own a maximum of one donum of land (approximately 1/3rd of an acre or 1338 metres square) however, you may come across or hear about Non-Turkish Cypriots that have purchased or own more than this amount of land. This is usually explained by the fact that the person has obtained a limited company to trade in Northern Cyprus and that, it is the company that owns the land.

• When decided on a property, agree a price.
• Meeting with your appointed solicitor for drawing up of the contracts in which both vendor & purchaser must sign.
• When both parties are happy both vendor & purchaser sign the contract.
• Application to Minister of Tourism applied for.
• Deposit of 10 -20% is held for the vendor.
• Once application has been granted the sale can continue to completion with the balance being paid and the lease being transferred into the purchaser's name.

In line with the rest of the world there are some additional costs involved when purchasing a property in North Cyprus.

They are as follows:

• Solicitor -£1200 – 1500 -This is a one off fee for the conveyance work.
• Stamp Duty 0.5 % of the Contract Price.
• District Land Office (DLO) -6% of the estimated value of the home, this is usually lower than the sale price and is based upon the cost to replace the building..
• # KDV (vat) -5%. This is a one off cost which the majority of the builders in # Northern Cyprus include in the purchase price but this must be stated in the contract.
• Mains connections -Electricity & Water £500 – 1500.