North Cyprus property title deeds

Most people have heard conflicting stories about property buying in North Cyprus, so the conscientious among you decide to research the situation. When looking in to the area of title deeds you can find yourself coming up against a mixture of sometimes baffling information, much of which seems to give no answer and some of which confuses you even more than when you first set out! Much of that information is often misguided, misinformed or just plain old propaganda aimed at putting people off buying in the North Cyprus.

Contrary to popular belief there is just one title that relates to immovable property that you will purchase, and that is Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus freehold, we are after all in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This title deed can be broken down into four subsections as follows;

Pre '74 Foreign Title: This is land/property that was pre 1974 owned by a foreign (non Turkish Cypriot) national.

Pre '74 Turkish Title: This is land/property that was pre 1974 owned by a Turkish Cypriot.

Exchange Title (Esdeger, pronounced Esh-day-air): This is land/property that was given to a Turkish Cypriot in exchange for land/property that they had to leave behind in the south of the island in 1974.

TMD Title: This is land that was given to people for military service and to Turkish and Turkish Cypriot settlers for various reasons after 1974 to encourage the economical development of the island.

NOTE: All of the above land titles are considered safe to purchase. However we highly recommend that when deciding to purchase a property that you find an independent solicitor that will act on your behalf to advise you and check that your property holds a legitimate, clean freehold, title deed.

To truly understand the confusion that surrounds the title deed issue here in Cyprus, we highly recommend a history lesson on the situation that lead to the division of the island. The following sites give a great insight into the history, past and present, and may put pay to a few fears and rumours that seem to be abound.

There are indeed many confusing aspects to title deeds such as land/properties with no title and leasehold land/properties that could be handed back when, or if, there is a settlement on the island. As a company, Unwin Estate Agents do not deal with these areas; therefore, we feel it unnecessary to confuse you by explaining these and other areas.

www.embargoed.org