FOLLOWING months of deafening silence from the Cyprus Government, the Cyprus Property Action Group (CPAG) has today released its report Cyprus Property Pitfalls: a time for ACTION.
CPAG also calls on those who have been scammed by the rogues and conmen in the Cyprus property industry to write to their MEPs and MP urging them to exert pressure on the Cypriot authorities to ensure their property rights.
Established in 2007, CPAG is a pressure group dedicated to creating awareness within the industry and Government of the problems buyers may face as a result of buying property in Cyprus and lobbying for change.
In the latter part of 2007, and at the request of the then Finance Minister Michalis Sarris, CPAG prepared a report. This detailed the problems faced by Cypriot and non-Cypriot property buyers together with suggestions as to how those problems could be resolved.
CPAG delivered its report to Minister Sarris on 3rd January 2008. Mr Sarris replied, “I would like to refer to your letter dated January 2nd, 2008, and to thank you for sharing with us the Report “Cyprus Property Pitfalls”. We found the Report very useful and we are in the process of analyzing its content and concrete suggestions. I look forward to continuing the dialogue on this issue, shortly on the basis of the results of this analysis which we expect to complete by the end of March 2008.”
Following the 2008 elections, which resulted in Minister Sarris being replaced in office, CPAG sent their report to the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Justice and Minister of Finance. Since that time the Cyprus Government has neither refuted the contents of the report, nor has it shown the common courtesy to respond formally.
Government pronouncements
Sunday’s report, Property buyers get one finger salute from Government, clearly demonstrates that the Government of Cyprus would rather turn a blind eye to the illegal activities of property developers and others, than take assertive action to protect the rights of property buyer.
This, in a so-called civilised country that is a member of the EU, is totally unacceptable!
In light of this revelation and the Cyprus Government’s reluctance to enter into any form of meaningful dialogue to resolve the many property problems, the Cyprus Property Action Group has decided to make their report generally available and urges all those with property issues in Cyprus to write to their MEP, MP and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Get your copy of the Cyprus Property Action Group’s report by clicking on: Cyprus Property Pitfalls: a time for ACTION.
Write to your MP, MEP and Gordon Brown
The Cyprus Property Action Group urges all those who:
- do not have their Title Deeds;
- have been exploited and coerced into paying illegal Immovable Property Tax, contract cancellation fees, etc. whilst in the Title Deed trap;
- believe that what happens in Cyprus has no place in the EU!
to write to their Euro MP (www.europarl.org.uk for British citizens or www.europarl.europa.eu for other EU nationals).
British nationals are also urged to write to their MP and to the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Contact details can be found on the UK Government website at www.parliament.uk
What should I write?
Your letters should urge your MP and MEP to put pressure on national Government (MP) or the EU (MEP) specifically to:
- Exert pressure on Cyprus to adhere to the Constitution of Cyprus in protecting all buyers’ property rights.
- That Cyprus should also follow EU and UN charters on the protection of property rights, copies of which follow this message.
- That in the event of a developer defaulting on a mortgage that the buyers’ property rights are no longer handed to the lender bank on a plate.
- Specifically, that the Government of Cyprus should guarantee every sales contract which has been officially lodged with the Land Registry, even in the event of a developer defaulting. (N.B. – let us not forget that they are currently standing behind the local banks with guarantees on bank deposits).
- That the Cyprus Government should be forced into developing a strategy and timetable for transfers of all outstanding Title Deeds.
The Cyprus Property Action Group has prepared draft letters, copies of which you can request by clicking here.
International Legal texts for the
Protection of Private Property as a Human Right
The Universal Declaration on Human Rights of the United Nations General Assembly,
December 10, 1948
Article 17
Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Article 1 of the Protocol 1 to the Convention:
Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The European Parliament Declaration of fundamental rights and freedoms.
Article 9:
The right of ownership shall be guaranteed. No one shall be deprived of their possessions except where deemed necessary in the public interest and in the cases and subject to the conditions provided for by law and subject to fair compensation.
The European Charter of Fundamental Rights (Nice)
Article 17: Right to Property.
Everyone has the right to own, use, dispose of and bequeath his or her lawfully acquired possessions. No one may be deprived of his or her possessions except in the public interest and in cases and under the conditions provided for by law subject to fair compensation being paid in good time for their loss.
Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus
Article 23 of the Constitution states:
1. Every person, alone or jointly with others, has the right to acquire, own possess, enjoy or dispose of any movable or immovable property and has the right to respect for such right.
2. No deprivation or restriction or limitation of any such right shall be made except as provided in this Article.
