CYPRUS Property News attracted more than a million visitors since the start of the year and here is our list of the top 10 news articles and stories that have attracted the most interest from you, our readers during 2015.
In reverse order:
At number 10: Troika turns up the heat on Title Deeds – Money talked when the troika of Cyprus’ international lenders said that they would not release a tranche of bailout loan until Cyprus enacted legislation to protect those home buyers who had paid for their properties but had not received Title Deeds.
At number 9: Hidden mortgage bill passed – News that MPs had passed a bill to sort out the mess created by the failure to provide Title Deeds to people who had fulfilled their contractual obligations to their developer, but who could not get their Title Deeds due to their developer’s debts.
At number 8: President abandons home buyers – News that Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades rejected a bill banning banks from repossessing homes that their purchasers had paid for because it created a general and permanent shield, not for vulnerable groups, but a number of sellers and land developers. (This was subsequently overtaken by the passing into law of the ‘hidden mortgage’ bill.)
At number 7: ECJ ruling protects consumers with Swiss franc loans – A report from a lawyer in whose opinion those who received loans in Swiss francs from banks were protected from exchange rate fluctuations following a ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
At number 6: Reduced property transfer fees – News that a bill had been passed that reduced Property Transfer Fees for transfers that take place by 31st December 2016. (Property Transfer Fees are the Cyprus equivalent of the UK’s Stamp Duty Land Tax.)
At number 5: Paying Immovable Property Tax 2014 – An article explaining how property buyers without Title Deeds should register with the tax authorities in order to pay their Immovable Property Tax liabilities. (This article featured at number 10 in our top 10 list last year).
At number 4: Title Deeds a complete and utter mess – An article from early in the year when MPs voted though amendments preventing banks from repossessing homes that people have paid for, although home buyers would still be unable to secure their Title Deeds until their developer’s debts had been repaid.
At number 3: Immovable Property Tax 2015 – Details of proposed bills to reform Cyprus tax framework and assess Immovable Property Tax based on the 2013 property valuations. However, these bills failed and we expect to see a revised Immovable Property Tax system introduced in 2016.
At number 2: Cyprus property valuations now online – Another article that we published last year explaining how home buyers could find the taxable value of their property following its revaluation by the Department of Lands and Surveys.
At number 1: Apply for your Title Deeds now – Details of how home buyers unable to get the Title Deeds to the property they purchased due to developers’ debts should apply to the Land Registry to secure those deeds; application fee €10/purchaser.
I’m pleased to say that after many years of inaction that Cyprus (with a little help from the troika) introduced a number of significant property-related reforms over the past twelve months; in particular the ‘hidden mortgage’/trapped buyer bill’ which has resulted in many thousands of people applying for the Title Deed to the property they purchased – and also the reduction in Property Transfer Fees for transfers that take place by 31st December 2016.
There remains much work to be done and let’s hope that Cyprus doesn’t rest on its laurels but continues to work towards providing a safe country in which to purchase property with effective laws to protect buyers’ interests – and unencumbered Title Deeds available for transfer on delivery of a property.
May I take this opportunity to thank you for your support and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and health, happiness and success in 2016.
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Yup me too, big thanks to Nigel and his efforts, land registry has thrown then ball towards the bank, any-day now they have to respond to land registry request to release deeds…or object surprise surprise the developer is a.w.o.l….again thanks Nigel
(You’re welcome – I hope you get the deeds soon.)
Hi Nigel
Natalie and I would like to thank you for your priceless knowledge and guidance on how to purchase a property in Cyprus.
We are happy to say that we are on our final stage and looking forward to completion in January.
As promised when we arrive in Cyprus Natalie and I would love to take you out for dinner as our way of saying thank you. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Kind Regards
Edward & Natalie Sweeney
(Thank you Edward & Natalie – I hope completion takes place as planned. Please get in touch when you arrive and we can arrange to get together. I hope that you have a Happy Christmas and a successful, healthy and happy New Year.)
May I also say thank you Nigel, I just wish I knew about your website before buying in Cyprus eight years ago. Your advice and wise counsel have steered many through the maze that is property ownership in Cyprus.
Merry Christmas to you and the family.
(Thank you Pippa – I hope you have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.)
Nigel, Thank you for giving us a platform to air our thoughts and express our concerns. Thank you for your patience and guidance during the last 12 months.
Have a well earned happy Christmas and a great new year.
PS. Thanks to Denis and CPAG too. I hope he is in good health.
(Thank you Andrew and I hope you have a Happy Christmas and health and happiness in the New Year. Denis is alive and well – living in France. I spoke with him a couple of weeks ago and he’s still working behind the scenes.)