Buying a property in Northern Cyprus

• I am considering buying a new build property near Kyrenia. The local builder bought the land and each plot will have a TRNC title. Having read so many warnings about exchange land and the possibility of Greek Cypriot repossession if the island is re-united at some future date, I would like to hear from Brits who have property with this title and what local feeling is. Agents say claims will never be heard on a case by case basis, but the TRNC government will negotiate a deal with the Republic of Cyprus for all owners of Greek Cypriot land in the North. I am not so sure as the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Greek Cypriots are the'only true and lawful owners' how should I proceed?

  14 Jun 2006, 01:18 Anonymous

Replies

• dont

  Do not buy in Turkish Cyprus, regardless of the legal status of property for the Turkish-Cypriot government it holds no weight, as the country is illegal there for you will not own the property regardless of what turkish-cyprus government says, any re-unification or turkey joining EU will result in major problems such as greek-cypriot repossesion (although this is unlikely to be outright, you might end up paying compensation rather than losing your home, or the government may take your home and pay you a small compensation if your lucky). It is also illegal in the sense that in law, the sales act, it refers to the fact that for sombody to sell somthing they must have rightful ownership, this is not the case, effectivly Turkey dosnt own the land, the land is occupied land, therefore any abolishment of turkish cyprus would see your home as illegal and you would most likly been deported and be stripped of all ownership.
  
  But above all it is immoral to buy land from someone who dosnt own it.

  Anonymous 07 Jul 2006, 09:24 - Report

• Info

  www.proactpartnership.com for more info.
  
  

  Anonymous 07 Jul 2006, 09:26 - Report

• i dont agree with you

  i have just bought a villa in the north of Cyprus
  and i am sure its a good deal and a good property
  for more information :
  http://www.sweetwaterbay.co.uk/

  Anonymous 10 Aug 2006, 12:52 - Report

• Sure

  Im sure it was a good deal but for how long ?

  Anonymous 20 Aug 2006, 02:49 - Report

• TRNC Property

  Good buy now Oram's won ))))))))))

  Anonymous 06 Sep 2006, 04:33 - Report

• buying in the occupied part of cyprus

  buying a property that has been stolen from its owners is immoral
  
  only the brits stoop to this based on greed i hope you all die

  Anonymous 15 Sep 2006, 10:01 - Report

• looking for a property in the north?

  I personally think that you are looking for problems.
  YOU CAN BUY!!!! BUT HOW CAN YOU SALE? AND WHO IS GOING TO BUY A STOLEN PROPERTY?
  

  Anonymous 23 Sep 2006, 03:44 - Report

• BUYING IN THE NORTH?

  I THINK YOU ARE ALL MORE CLAVER THAN THAT

  Anonymous 23 Sep 2006, 03:47 - Report

• HOME IN THE NORTH

  SO,HELLO, WHERE ARE YOU?

  Anonymous 02 Oct 2006, 06:25 - Report

• i checked a new location today

  sweetwater bay is realy cheap, can anyone send his/her impressions ?
  <a href="http://www.sweetwaterbay.co.uk">Northern cyprus properties - sweetwater bay</a>
  
  i also check evergreen, are they ok too ?

  john brukiz 12 Apr 2007, 07:52 - Report

• sweetwaterbay seems like a nice project

  im still checkin for others projects.
  orams really helps
  <a href='http://www.sweetwaterbay.co.uk'>northern cyprus properties</a>

  duke mackenzie 24 Apr 2007, 09:40 - Report

• Property Warning North Cyprus

  Hi to you all
  
  for those who have not heard of us, we are Simon and Vikki and we are based in the UK.
  
  This Bulletin Board will not work without YOUR INPUT and advice
  
  Our parents purchased a property in the TRNC over 3 years ago and to date have nothing to show for their money, just a very large loan for £150,000 that they (in failing health) are struggling to pay on their meagre pensions.
  
  We are hoping that this group will be able to lead or advise those as to the possible pitfalls that may occur when purchasing in Northern Cyprus
  
  The country is truly beautiful and the people also, but there are many unscrupulous characters lurking including Developers, Estate Agents and more worringly even Lawyers
  
  We work closly with "The Home Buyers Pressure Group"
  
  http://www.hbpg-trnc.net
  
  who have loads of very important information on their site.
  
  Our site is
  
  www.trncpropertywarning.freewebsites.com
  
  Takes a little time to load but well worth the wait.
  
  All we ask is for true stories (that can be backed with documentary evidence if required) good or bad, also nominations for "Good and Bad Guys" again with evidence should it be needed.
  
  We look forward to welcoming you
  
  and if we can help 1 person
  
  NOT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES AS OUR PARENTS
  
  we will have succeeded.

  VICTORIA SLOSS 11 May 2007, 02:49 - Report

• Sweetwater bay

  I see some one asked about sweetwaterbay well when we looked there all the wardrobes had been flooded so had the show house it looked like they were not sealed properly and as an architect I wouldnt touch them with a barge pole, in fact looking at all the complications there untill there was some sort of a land deal or settlement I would not want to buy there as I heard to many horror stories and they were all genuine so bought in Bodrum Turkey a ready built with title deeds and no hastle

  Peter Chesterfield 22 Sep 2007, 08:49 - Report

• building in northern cyprus

  what if you are a greek cypriot have the deeds to land in northern cyprus, that has not already been built on it.
  what are the chances as building on it, 3rd generation greek cypriots where the land has been handed down from are granfather to father.
  
  if we built and cyprus was to re-unite, we hold the deeds. it all gets confusing.

  mad--greek 15 Oct 2007, 12:13 - Report

• Save to buy in North Cyprus

  It is safe to buy property in North Cyprus. All the anti-Turk hype is being spread by the Greeks who can not handle the fact they lost a war they started in 1974.
  
  The fact is that every test case in the UK has seen the landowners in the TRNC defeat the Greek side. The Orams case saw the Greek side defeated by Tony Blair's wife and they were forced to pay nearly 750,000 GBP in legal fees and court costs to the Orams. Of course, the Orams never spent a pence because the Turkish government footed the bill. The Greeks have never won a case and never will. Even the Europes Court of Human Rights has not backed the Greeks.
  
  If you are looking for a good developer, let me suggest Blossom Properties. I bought a property from them in Esentepe and another rental income in Kyrenia. Top estate agents in the UK and North Cyprus work with them.
  
  You can look at their website at: www.Blossomproeprties.co.uk. There are also other good developers, but these are the folks I bought from. Good people, prices and locations is what sold me on this company in particular.

  Tim Higgins 01 Jan 2008, 10:39 - Report

• Sweetwater -- bad build so-so location

  I checked out this project. Build is very average and location is not the best.

  Phillip Loften 01 Jan 2008, 10:41 - Report

• How can you know about build, project is off-plan

  Mr. Loften,
  
  You claim the build is so-so, but the project is off-plan. As per the location, it is the best location in Kyrenia.
  
  I do not know what your interests are, but they are not pure....

  Tim10 06 Jan 2008, 03:29 - Report

• And what are your interests Tim Higgins?

  You spend a lot of time promoting blossom developers on various forums.
  How much are they paying for it?

  anne1234 15 May 2008, 08:09 - Report

• Infrastructure Problems

  Regardless of how legitmate developments are there are now major problems with the infrastructure.
  I have friends who disregarded advice not to buy in the North. They are now in a position where they have a house that is completed but they are told it will be at lease 5 years before they get electricty and water.
  The infrastructure in the North simply cannot cope with the boom in building.

  Dennis 15 May 2008, 08:16 - Report

• buying property in north Cyprus

  how safe is it to buy a property in north Cyprus

  TERENCE DONOVAN 08 Jun 2008, 07:14 - Report

• Safety

  It is safe and by now around 30 000 foreigners have bought their houses in North Cyprus. Turkish Government guarantees the compensation to greeks if they ever want to get their properties back. So once u got your Contract in hands, no one has a right to take ur property back. It is guaranteed by TRNC law and approved by EU Human Rights Court.

  Andy 31 Jul 2008, 09:39 - Report

• dont buy

  Turkish Cypriot government on its own its illegal. it holds no weight, as the country is illegal there for you will not own the property regardless of what turkish-cyprus government says.
  Dont forget that no one recognizes north cyprus government.
  DONT BUY ANYTHING FROM NORTH CYPRUS DESPITE THE LOW PRICES!!!THEY ARE SIMPLY ILLEGAL.

  ! 09 Aug 2008, 10:22 - Report

• to buy or not to buy

  hi first i would not have a villa biult off plan unless i was here ALL the time to keep an eye out,second make sure you have already got eletric and mains,third make sure there is no mortgage on the land or home you want to buy,and last speak to other people who have bought or live here not just the first people you meet but as many as poss,hope this is of help

  rose 133 10 Nov 2008, 08:44 - Report

• What about ...

  pre 1974 title deeds if turkish, greek or outlandish like fx british (in the trnc). Or would just anything be problematic?

  inc 27 Nov 2008, 11:46 - Report

• Karmi

  I used to stay in this pretty village pre 1974. I read on the Internet that because the houses had tumbled down they were built up again by Brits, Germans , French , Austrian etc. Did it ever occur to anyone to ask how it got in this tumbledown state. It was because the village was flattened by the Turks in 1974 and its inhabitants murdered. It makes me sick to my soul to think how anyone can contiuue to live peacefully in a place that was so drenched in blood. And what did the villagers of Karmi do to deserve their dreadful fate? They happened to be Greek! I hope that one day their decendants will come back to claim their land. And it will serve the present inhabitants right. It does no good to benefit by others misfortunes and I really hope all the chickens will come home to roost one day. Much as I love Karmi, I cannot bring myself to go back and see it. I do go to Kyrenia but it is a sad place for me now. The people I once knew are gone and with them has gone the heart of the town. And I know I would feel the same way about Karmi.

  Patti Sherratt 21 Dec 2008, 08:06 - Report

• Karmi

  Shame to read about Karmi, Patti - what goes around, comes around, as they say.
  
  [email removed]

  Simon Swain 30 Dec 2008, 12:40 - Report

• Patti

  If you read the above message, Patti, please get in touch soon.

  Simon Swain 30 Dec 2008, 12:45 - Report

• history

  Before you start blaming the Turks, why not be honest and look at the historical back ground.
  Why did the Turks invade North Cyprus and only Norht Cyprus? To protect the Turk Cypriots against the so called Greek Cypriot resistance fighters. Most of them came from Greek, were paid Greek soldiers and killed every Turk Cypriot they could find.
  There are mass graves fo killed Turks everywhere.
  And what about the Greek Cypriot Arch bishof who requested a racial cleaning?
  Regarding exchange title land, Turks gave up land in the South for this exchange, so where is this stolen land?
  Strange enough, some Greeks stayed in North Cyprus, not having any problems living there, quite a contrast to the way Turk Cypriots were treated in the South.

  stony2009 17 Jan 2009, 12:08 - Report

• latest new for buying propert in "northen cyprus"..change your mind

  please follow the link below:
  
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8022238.stm
  
  if you are considering purchasing property in "northen cyprus" you still have time to change your mind!

  love my country 28 Apr 2009, 08:49 - Report

• Minefield for Northern Cyprus property owners

  Just in case anyone has been living in a bubble, on April 28 09 the Orams definatively lost their case in the EU high court. The high court basicaly sided with the greek cypriot owner of the land. The Orams will need to demolish their home and return the land to its prebuilt state all at their expense. The greek cypriot owner is now suing them in UK court in an attempt to reclaim all damages. Frankly the Orams deserved this. You just don't go building on someone else's land. One day Cyprus will be reunified and everyone who built there (remember 88% of the property in NC was greek owned before 1974)will lose everything to the original property owners

  Fred G 01 May 2009, 07:19 - Report

• ORAMS

  I'm of turkish-cypriot stock I hold the deeds(pre-1974)to a large parcel of land in Paphos this land has a 200 room hotel on it I have been made an offer of GBP£55,000.to relinquish my rights to the title,guess what I'm off to ECJ,reason I want what the Greeks want lets see if they demolish the hotel, of course I want rent and compensation,the owners of this hotel have PERSONAL assets all over the E.U. so I could bring law suits in France,Holland,Italy,Spain and Portugal lets see if they gloat and smirk then,this ruling works two ways!!! AS EVER THE GREEK-CYPRIOTS START SOMETHING THEY CAN'T FINISH,GET REAL CHARLIE YOU WILL NEVER BEAT US!!! regards to you all in the south,Ossie

  mustha ossman 02 May 2009, 11:21 - Report

• hotel?

  hey mr sour grapes i think your lying
  tell me the name of the hotel built on your land

  unbeilever 05 May 2009, 09:43 - Report

• hotel?

  UNBEILEVER- I'M NOT-AND THE NAME OF THE HOTEL IS,LIKE I'M GOING TO TELL YOU,I MAY BE TURKISH BUT I'M NOT STUPID ,regards,M.Ossman

  mustha ossman 06 May 2009, 12:57 - Report

• To Mr Ossman

  As a Greek Cypriot I urge you to pursue your rights through the courts. If the property is yours you should fight for it. We cannot allow any governemnt to tamper with the right of property. As for the foreigners buying stolen land they should be criminaly persecuted and thrown in prison lie the felons they are.

  Kyproleon 23 Jun 2009, 04:15 - Report

• A history Lesson

  I am neither Greek nor Turk but I am a history Professor and I offer up this observation. The island will eventually be reunited. When that time comes what classically happens is that each side cares for its own. In order to appease the radicals on each side a sacrificial lamb is typically offered up. In the case of Cyprus everyone can rest assured the Greeks and the Turks will make sure their respective populations are okay. To appease any residual anger, outside groups will be made to pay for the sins of the locals.Based on how these conflicts typically play out, the Britons and other foreigners in Northern Cyprus will bear the brunt of the anger. They should expect to be dispossed of any property they own. Anyone interested in buying property in NC should bear this little history lesson in mind

  Thomas M 03 Jul 2009, 10:22 - Report