Buying a house step by step

Buying a house step by step

Cyprus land law and UK land law and the associated procedures aren’t the same. It’s wise to employ the services of a recommended local lawyer even before you find a property and always before paying any money. This way you can familiarise yourself with procedures and seek general advice to bear in mind while you’re house-hunting.

Holding Deposit

In many cases, the vendor will ask for a holding deposit. This is usual in the case of a new property; in the case of a resale, you may pay a deposit only on signing the sale contract. A deposit reserves your property and it should be paid directly to the vendor; it isn’t kept in a separate (bonded) account until the transaction is completed as in some other countries.

Although the payment of a holding deposit is normal procedure in Cyprus, however, you should always take advice from your lawyer before handing over any money. He will advise you to keep the amount to a minimum and will draw up a simple document of receipt stating that the deposit paid is subject to satisfactory searches (see Lawyer’s Checks below). In general, you will lose your deposit only if you withdraw from a sale without a satisfactory reason (i.e. simply ‘change your mind’).

Lawyer's checks

Once the sale price has been agreed or a holding deposit paid, your lawyer will begin to draw up the sale contract and make the following checks, which usually takes around a month:

  • Verifying with the Lands Office that the vendor has legal authority to sell the property and that there are no debts attached to the property;

  • Ensuring that, in the case of several owners, they all agree to the sale and sign the sale contract.

  • Checking the ownership of any trees on your land (which may be owned by people other than the registered property owner);

  • Establishing the exact boundaries of the plot. This is done automatically by the Lands Office, but you can wait up to a year, so it’s preferable to arrange for a private surveyor to do so and to have your lawyer send his report to the Lands Office.

  • Verifying that there are separate title deeds for your property or plot. This is very important when you buy a property in a new development. It may be difficult to get these from a developer and provision must be made in the contract in case the developer or vendor fails to supply them. Your sale contract must be deposited with the Lands Office to protect your rights and put a charge on the property.

  • Making sure that, in the case of a property under construction, all the required planning and building permits have been obtained;

  • Checking that, in the case of land purchase, you have proper access to your property. You won’t be granted planning permission unless you have access to a public road. This must be confirmed before you can apply for planning permission. The regulations state that the distance to a public road must be less than 600ft. If the distance is less than 600ft but you don’t have right of access, you must apply for it to the Lands Office, which is a lengthy procedure.

  • Verifying planning zones and regulations with the Lands Office. Zoning areas were changed in 2003 and you’re permitted to build only on land zoned for building. Your lawyer should also check the zoning of nearby land to ensure that your plot isn’t close to an industrial or agricultural zone, which may affect your enjoyment of the property.

  • Checking the legal building density (how many square metres of land you can build on) and that the intended use, height and number of floors of any planned buildings are permitted.

  • Making sure that the proposed building isn’t within a seashore protection zone, which usually extends approximately 300ft from the sea and where no building is permitted.

  • Checking whether there are any ancient monuments close to where your plot is, and consulting the Inspector of Antiquities. Ancient monument areas are usually marked ‘A.M.’ on Lands Office plans (known as the ‘Lands and Surveys’).

  • Verifying that utilities can be connected to the property. Usually electricity can be brought to any part of Cyprus, although it may be expensive if the property is in a remote area. Your lawyer should also ensure that it’s easy for the property to be connected to a water supply, including drinking water.

 

Christos Nikolaou

Author: Christos Nikolaou

BEng Mechanical Engineering, MSc Real Estate, ETEK Property Valuer, Register and Licensed Real Estate Agent.

Christos Nikolaou is the founder and Managing Director of Property Canvas, he holds a license as an Estate Agent from the Association of Real Estate Agents of Cyprus and he is a registered Property Valuer in the Technical and Scientific Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK). He is the author of our “Buying a house step by step” and is a certified advance negotiator.

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