Property for sale in North Cyprus

North Cyprus Occupation
The Northern area of the Republic of Cyprus is under military occupation by Turkey since 1974. In the recent years it has experienced property construction and sales boom. Some of these properties still belong to the Greek Cypriots who were expelled from their homes at the time of the Turkish invasion. Further division of the island prevented them from returning to their properties until present time. There were multiple cases when a property for sale in Northern Cyprus, which have a legal Greek Cypriot owner, was illegally sold to the foreigners. Approximately 78% of the privately owned land in the territory now occupied by Turkey belonged to the forcibly displaced Greek Cypriot owners. This fact easily brings to the conclusion that the construction boom is going on the lands belonging to the Greek Cypriots without their consent.

North Cyprus Property - The Risks
Apart from the moral side of this issue anyone who has purchased or is looking to buy Greek Cypriot owned property in the occupied part of the Republic should know that he does so illegally and becomes a potential target for criminal and civil law suits in the courts of the Republic of Cyprus and European Courts. Foreigners looking to buy an apartment, villa or other property in North Cyprus are strongly advised to thoroughly investigate the legal ownership status of the property. It can be done through the Lands and Surveys Department of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus to make sure that the seller is the true owner of the property and that the title deeds were not counterfeited.

Warnings about buying property in northern Cyprus
Warning about the risks involved in buying property in the Northern Cyprus was also made by the British High Commission . The warning stated: “The non-recognition of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”’ and the possibility of a future political settlement in Cyprus could have implications for those considering buying northern Cyprus properties. Before purchasing a north Cyprus property you are advised to appraise yourself fully of the situation and seek legal advice.” British High Commission spokesman Stewart Summers added: “Legally we can’t tell people ‘don’t do it’, but we are trying to make them fully aware of the potential hazards.” You can read more about the Illegal Exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties by Turkey in occupied areas on official websites of the Cyprus Press and information office and Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus .