North Cyprus Property Title Deeds

It is totally safe to purchase North Cyprus Property. However the most important you have the correct North Cyprus Property title deed.

Before 1974 and Foreign Ownership in Northern Cyprus Property : -

Property in North Cyprus with a deed – known as Kocan – that has been owned by an individual that is not Cypriot and before 1974.  Properties like these are few and far between and can give the fastest route to purchase as there are no requirements for the final say from the Ministers Council. These type North Cyprus properties are short in supply and demand highly premium prices. 

Before 1974 and owned by Turkish Cypriot nationals: -
North Cyprus Property in this group can be transferred in the new purchasers name but only after consent has been given by the Ministers Council.  Purchasers of foreign nationality are limited to procure 1x donum land for 1x person – and also a legally married couple will only count as one person. But, it is doable to register the first of a purchase in a series of North Cyprus purchases in one name, eg Mr Jones, and the next purchase in the other name, eg Mrs Jones.  The overall process for obtaining this consent can take from six months to several years. It is however possible to have occupation of the properties in North Cyprus during this time.  Property and land with this type of Property Title Deeds are few and far between. These North Cyprus properties are also very dear and mainly in Grade-B areas. The TRNC Total Possession Paper also known as Kesin tasarruf

This is the kind of North Cyprus Property or North Cyprus Land that was previously owned by a Cypriot-Greek pre 1974.  It comprises several sub categories -

1. Exchange Deeds - Known as Esdeger:-
The North Cyprus Property Title Deeds in this case were prearranged by the TRNC This is the Government to the Turkish Cypriot national refugees who fled to North Cyprus for their safety after the war in 1974. These individuals left behind all their property behind in South Cyprus.  The Government assessed the asset value of the refugee's abandoned property in the south on a point’s basis. These points were given to the refugees who could then use them to swap for relinquished houses or land – of Greek Cypriot origin – and valued at the total of the awarded points – these points based North Cyprus Properties allocation was in compensation for lost possessions and lost Southern Cyprus properties.  The Cypriot Turkish national then would have signed over their abandoned properties in the south of Cyprus to the TRNC to be held in a pending state and awaiting a negotiated resolution between the Northern Cyprus and Southern Cyprus Government.  The owner of this type of North Cyprus Property deed is permitted to sell their property which the deed relates to.  Many of the Turkish Cypriot nationals you speak to have given up vast quantities of properties and land in Southern Cyprus in ‘trade' for land and property in North Cyprus following the conflicts before 74 and the 74 dispute.  Under the UN plan reunification plan of Southern and Northern Cyprus, it is proposed that owners of this type of North Cyprus bartered property have the ownership finalised as internationally binding.  

2. No Previous Owner and Exchange Title Deeds for North Cyprus Property.

This relates to unregistered land and primarily uncultivated agricultural land prior to 1974. This land tended to have communal and community usage rather than being claimed by any one individual person or family.  Tracts of this type of North Cyprus land have been registered after 1974 and have been given the exchange North Cyprus Property Title Deeds status. 

3. Points-based Allocation Land - TMD:-
It is primarily agricultural land which the TRNC government has assigned to Turkish Cypriots or Turkish immigrants from the mainland of Turkey. This is conditional to the land being 'improved' then the UN Plan confirmed that North Cyprus Land and Property ownership will reside with the current owner regardless of any possible claims to the land.  All the above type of North Cyprus Property Title Deeds is considered safe, with or without a decision of the Cyprus reunification. Land allocated for military service:-

This is basically Greek land that the TRNC has given to service-men, their widows and their families subsequent to the conflicts of 1974. More recently, North Cyprus land was granted to Turkish Cypriots who finished a full two years of service in the military. This type of North Cyprus Property deed is considered less safe then those above and may carry a high chance of financial payment to a turned out Greek owner or his family. The finances have been laid out in the UN Plan, and for a North Cyprus property of 1/2 donum (670 square meters), an estimate of around £5k is a rough guide. Again, if the North Cyprus land has been enhanced it is immune from this type of restitution, regardless of the force of any claimant.  

Annan’s UN Plan for Greek Admin:-
Under the UN Plan for the solution of the Northern Cyprus issues, there are many areas which are under consideration for being handed back to the Greek Cypriot Government in the outcome of a decision of the on-going issues and diputes.  North Cyprus Property developers do wisely tend not to construct in these areas. However, if you are in any doubts instruct your appointed lawyer in TRNC to examine the history of the North Cyprus Property Title Deeds and the area where the desired property you are is situated and to consult you further.  

Greek Cypriot before 1974: -
This type of Northern Cyprus Property title deed is assigned to North Cyprus land or properties where there is a water-tight Greek title before 1974. Occasionally property comes on the market at a much lower cost with this type of title deed - such North Cyprus properties are not considered a safe purchase so it is wise to steer clear.  

Contractual land or property or “Cases Pending” Property: -
These are North Cyprus Properties where the title deeds were not ever issued. This may have been simply due to delays at this time of the partition of North Cyprus in 1974.  In 1974 the situation was chaotic and so a statement was given by the Government stating that all ownership of foreign properties and land in Northern Cyprus, when registered, would be totally respected and honoured.   The first of these types of pending cases have already gone through court.  If the North Cyprus Property or Land owner can prove the payment for the property was made in 1974 then the deeds are issued and mean the Northern Cyprus property is safe to buy. 

Government Leases: -
Occasionally TRNC Government land and property in North Cyprus comes available to lease.  These kinds on North Cyprus properties are usually abandoned and the Government may lease them out for periods of up to forty nine years for a nominal ground-rent for the lease period.  They are normally leased out to foreign owners / investors that are prepared to renovate them at their expense.  It is vital to remember that your investment may be at serious risk if you proceed to complete without getting the required confirmation of the Northern Cyprus Property deeds and the right to sell the property or land by a solicitor. The matter definitely needs advice by a local solicitor that is correctly qualified. It is the qualified solicitor that makes a purchaser's submission to the Ministers Council.