North Cyprus Title Deeds

In the Northern Cyprus community, the buying and selling of property has only increased in the last few years for a number of reasons. There have been concerns over what is legal and what is not legally binding for properly sales. Nothing would be more heartbreaking as to invest your hard-earned money into a foreign property with the hopes of retiring there only to find out that your title deed is null and void and there is not a thing you can do about the situation.

There are different types of title deeds in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which you should be aware of, and can be explained as simply stated below:

•	Internationally recognized – British or foreign owned property before 1974. This type of property is considered safe and legal to purchase or sell.
•	Foreign ownership pre 1974 – This title deed gives the land in question an unmistakably higher value since it is rare. This type of deed is the quickest route for purchasing since there is no approval to receive from the Council of Ministers.
•	Turkish Title Deeds – Turkish owned property before 1974 provides an excellent opportunity for buying or selling. Once this valuable property has been purchased it can be registered in your name only after approval has been granted from the Council of Ministers.
•	Post 74 Turkish Cypriot Absolute Possession Ownership Document (TRNC title deed) – Given to Turkish Cypriot in compensation for land left in South Cyprus, or awarded to Turkish Cypriots by the Northern Cyprus Government. Based on the 1983 TRNC constitution, all the deeds rectified and named as TRNC deeds are now freely transferable to foreigners.
•	Freehold – These types of properties are considered legal and safe to purchase or sell, but if there is ever any doubt, you will in fact feel more at ease by searching out the professional services of a lawyer who is knowledgeable in real estate matters of Northern Cyprus.
•	Leasehold – These are properties in Northern Cyprus and are owned by the TRNC government and will grant long-term leases of up to 49 years. Typically these leases are on property that is in dire need of maintenance and care. Leasers who are willing to put forth their own time and money for the renovations will be granted the lease.
•	Greek Cypriot owned Pre 1974 – These are properties that exist unclaimed and have no title deeds at all. These are considered, by rights, Greek Cypriot owned and hold the deed for that property which you have no right to purchase or sell although occasionally they are listed on the market for sale at a very low cost. Generally these properties are absolutely not safe to purchase and should not be considered.
•	Contractual or ‘cases pending’ land or property – Some properties were never issued deeds and fell through the bureaucratic cracks of the system back when the land was still within chaotic times. The Government of TRNC released a statement depicting that once land of this type was officially registered it would be in all regards respected. In order for that to happen, the owner of such a type of property must prove in court that a payment was made either with monetarily or in points in order to legally register it. Once this has been completed, the title deed is issued and from that point on the land and property can be sold and bought legally. Purchasing before this process of registration is highly advised against.

North Cyprus Legalities of Purchasing