10.04.2008 Crufts in North Cyprus

Crufts has been and gone, but local dog lovers can look forward to the biggest event in the North Cyprus Canine Calendar- the annual Kyrenia Animal Rescue dog show. The KAR show will once again be held in the municipal (Wednesday market) site on Sunday 27th April. Dogs who want to look there best on the big day can try the accessories available from the show sponsors, green garden pet and garden store

09.04.2008 Second phase of the Girne Bypass underway!

Despite the first phase of the Girne Bypass still remaining unopen to the general public, phase two is now firmly underway. The stretch from the Girne American University down to the Erener Petrol Station, Near Escape beach, is moving along at some rate with a scheduled completion date for as early as June this year. A spokesman for the roads and transport department said that “all being well the bypass, including the junction at the Lefkosa/Girne road, should be fully up and running by the end of the summer”. Once opened, the bypass should mean that congestion and traffic along the Girne/Lapta road is a thing of the past... watch this space for updates over the coming months!!

08.04.2008 Stamp Duty & Contract Registration

March this year saw many lawyers and individual purchasers clambering to pay Stamp duty and to register contracts at the District Land Office prior to the deadline of 31st March. With queues starting to form as early as 6.00am each morning outside the District Land Office in Kyrenia. Many people were being asked to return the following day as only a limited number of registrations were being dealt with on a daily basis. Further confusion arose when the offices closed for a public holiday and then again for industrial action by the union leaving people standing outside both offices only to be told they would not be opening that day. Big sighs of relief were heard all over TRNC when both the Tax Office and the District Land Office announced that the amnesty had been extended to 30th April 2008 giving all those who have not yet managed to pay the tax and register their contracts a much needed respite.

22.02.2008 Stamp Duty Amnesty

Stamping your contract at the Tax Office enables you to register your electricity and water meters in your name. What's more it enables you to lodge your contracts at the District Land Office as well. Under the new Estate Agent Law, lodging contracts at the DLO is to safeguard you against the Vendor. As you all know it takes approximately 2 years for all foreigners permissions to be granted and hence obtain title deeds to the property that was purchased. During this 2-year period the deeds remain in the Vendors name. Now when you register and lodge your contract at the DLO (old contracts have been given until the 1st April, 2008) it protects and safeguards you from the Vendor, restricting them (Vendor) in attempting to sell your property to a 3rd party or implementing a charge or impediment on the property in question. The procedure to register your contract must be done in the following order: Take a copy of your ORIGINAL contract together with a copy of your passports to the Tax Office. Here you will pay the stamp duty over your contract sales price. A pink colour receipt will be given upon payment. Once you have carried out the above, ensure to take a photocopy of both your stamped original contract and your receipt. Once you have done this you will need to take your original contract to the DLO (Within 21 days from the Stamp Duty date). When going to the DLO you are obliged to have the following documents with you: 2 Application Forms (which are in Turkish and can be obtained from the DLO, your agent or lawyer), 44.50YTL, if the Vendor is not a registered company the Vendors ID/Passport copy, if the Vendor is a registered company then the Vendors Company Documents, Purchasers ID/Passport copy (name(s) registered on the contract) and the Original contract that has been stamped at the Tax Office. Most of the above documents can be obtained from either your agent or from your lawyer. If you are unable to visit the TRNC to carry out the above, you must give authorization (meaning Power of Attorney) to your Estate Agent or to your lawyer or to a friend who resides in the TRNC . If you have already left either person authorization there is no need for another POA to be issued.

15.02.2008 Important changes to the law with regards to property sales in North Cyprus

A new law has been passed this month concerning new property sales which is also having an impact on sales that have already been completed. The new Estate Agency Law which has been passed to monitor and keep under strict regulations all those who are involved in the selling and marketing of properties is aimed at safeguarding and securing your interests in the property which you have purchased until the time that you are able to register the title deeds of the property into your name. It will further ensure that no bank charges, or mortgages can be placed on the land without your written consent as the purchaser. The process requires that all Sales Agreements are stamped at the tax office, and then deposited to the Land Registry Office, within 21 days of signing by the Vendor & Purchaser. However all Sales Agreements signed before the passing of this new law have 3 months from the date the Law was passed (until 4th April 2008) in which to complete the necessary procedure and deposit the Sales Agreement to the Land Registry Office. All purchasers are legally required to fulfil this obligation, and currently The Land Registry Office has advised that the legal representative of such purchaser may complete this procedure on their behalf. In the event that your Sales Agreement is not deposited to the Land Registry Office within the specified time period, it will cause you problems when you come to transferring the title deeds of the property into your name, as the Land Registry will not permit you to transfer the deeds into your name unless a new sales agreement is drawn up, signed and re-stamped and deposited. Thus incurring higher taxes.
How does this concern me?
Basically this effects everyone who has not had their contract stamped and lodged with the land registry. You need to speak with your solicitor ASAP to see if you have/have not paid your stamp duty. This is very important, your lawyer will advise you on this and how to get it paid. You need to provide your solicitor with your stamped contract ASAP to register this at the land registry. Please note this is your responsibility to do this, however your lawyer may be willing to assist with getting the contracts stamped at the Tax office. Any sales not registered before 4th April 2008 will be classed as new sales and 3% commission must then be paid to an Estate Agent to complete the sale, so this is in the interest of all customers to organise this straight away or you will end up paying more money. Without this being done the deeds cannot be transferred into your name.

07.02.08 Let it Snow!

The first snow in 3 years fell on the Besparmak (Five Finger) Mountain range in Lapta. All the local people were there enjoying the fun, as children threw snow balls at each other, and built snowmen. The scenery was not to be missed, it looked magnificent with the trees and mountain tops covered in snow . The cold weather came from Turkey which made temperatures plummet down to 1c in the evenings. But now a week on the sun is shining and the temperature has risen.

17.12.07 SOS Childrens Village

Unwin Estate Agents, together with local developers and Solicitors made sure that the children of the SOS village were guaranteed a very Happy Christmas and superb New Year. In excess of £12,000 worth of electrical equipment was donated, including 8 computer systems, 11 air conditioners, 3 flat screen TV’s, and 2 washing machines. Bosch and Local computer specialists Technomart supplied the goods at cost price, and installed them free of charge

15.12.07 Russian President supports Northern Cyprus

The Turkey.su project already mentioned that Northern Cyprus is determined to keep its’ share of the ‘world tourism cake’, as the present imbalance between North and South Cyprus is obvious. The local tour operators intend to focus on Russia, as Russians have loved this fashionable resort for a long time. Recently Northern Cyprus has received support from the Russian president Vladimir Putin, who, during his talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan, presented his vision of the development prospects of this resort. He stated that firstly, the economic isolation of Northern Cyprus has to end. In his opinion, all embargoes, which in fact have led to this situation, were baseless. “The first thing that we need to do is to solve the problem of economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot part of the island. It is important to create the conditions for building a solid relationship between both parts, as well as a solid foundation to normalise the relationship and balance of interests of citizens on both sides”, he stated. Such support from Russia – a country with an enormous tourism market, is really important in helping to solve the problems of Northern Cyprus, therefore such comments and negotiations could be considered groundbreaking for the existing situation.

15.11.07 Kyrenia Mountain Trail

A new 230km trail across the whole coast of Northern Cyprus, has recently been opened to the public.The trail runs along the tops of the Besparmak, Kyrenia, and Karpaz mountain ranges taking in miles upon miles of unspoilt scenery. Whether you walk, or ride a mountain bike, you will be greeted by the wild donkey sanctuary, masses of Orchids, and many other colourful wild flowers; as well as dozens of species of migrating and native birds. You will see Roman and Byzantine ruins, Churches, and a Maronite Monastery, which will give you a terrific insight into Cyprus’ colourful past. Downloadable maps and GPS coordinates can be downloaded from this public Website http://www.kyreniamountaintrail.org

13.08.07 Skype

We have now added Skype Technology. We can now be Contacted at local rates from a UK Landline. For a list of Skype Numbers and Names Please Click

09.05.07 Ercan Airport to Get New Control Tower

Foundations were laid for a new 40 meter air traffic control tower and 3 storey administration building at Ercan Airport during a ceremony last week. The 13 million Euro scheme, which is part of the airport “Smart” project, is designed to improve flight safety for the 101,000 planes per year that use TRNC air space. Public Works and Transport Minister Salih Usar said the new computerized flight-tracking system, which is due to become operational within a year, would greatly assist air traffic controllers. He said the project aimed to handle the influx of tourists expected if the international isolation of the TRNC were lifted.

13.08.07 Sea Turtles of Northern Cyprus

There are two main types of sea-turtles nesting along the coasts of Northern Cyprus; these are: The Loggerhead, and The Green Turtle. They are both listed as endangered species and under strict protection. About 46 sandy beaches in North Cyprus comprise the main nesting ground for these endangered sea turtles in the Eastern Mediterranean. The nesting season for these sea-turtles is from mid-May until mid-October. The turtles build their nests by digging the sand 30-60 cm deep, if they succeed in laying their eggs and the eggs are not harmed the baby turtles hatch in about 55-60 days, and make their way down to the sea. It should be noted that only one out of four thousand baby sea-turtles manage to survive until their adolescence. During their lifetime, and especially when they lay their eggs, the sea-turtles are especially vulnerable to external dangers, such as other sea or land animals, noise and light pollution, and rubbish etc. The Environmental Protection Office of Northern Cyprus, are very active in the protection of the sea turtles of Northern Cyprus, and hold visits for people to see the Turtles nesting and hatching.