BE AWARE.
There is a scam in Cyprus whereby the issue of title deeds is delayed,sometimes for many years, and something called Specific Performance is issued to the purchaser in the interim. Developers seem to be able to use property in this state of limbo as security for loans!! So what happens if the developer goes bust? Of course the blame for the delay in issuing title to the purchaser is passed between developer--lawyer---land registery. If the property is sold on in the mean time, developers often charge large sums to re-asign the specific performance. This may not be legal but it happens
This sc../ er mess needs to be sorted before I could recommend a purchase in Cyprus.

The EU showers us all with laws and regulations, why not on this subject?
Perhaps Andrew Winter could 'mention' this problem when he deals with sales/purchases in Cyprus.

P.S. I have been waiting for 5 years, for title deeds, for a property completed in 1998.

Funnily enough today I spoke with a friend of mine regarding her apartment in Cyprus. She has just put it up for sale with the 'Developer Company' as she put it. They have to sell through them as they also don't have their title deeds - and they also bought around the same time as you. She said that all the while a developer leaves one building on site unfinished, they don't have to issue deeds and therefore all resales have to go through them. Sounds like a really shitty situation and I don't envy her one bit. I asked her how much effort the company put into advertising/selling, but she was keen to change the subject - I think they are rather embarrassed by their lack of due dilligence. It makes me sad and angry as they put all their savings in to this property. Now you say that the developer can use the property as security for loans - yikes, I so hope nothing like that happens to her. Seems to me the developer has them by the short and curlies!

I'm new here - but I've lived permanently in Cyprus for the last 5 years and there are many issues with the property market the Government here must address.

You will have seen Channel 4’s documentary about the Title Deed problems affecting thousands of Brits who have bought property here. That's just the tip of the iceberg!

Zeeniebabes - I wouldn't be at all surprised if you're friends had to pay £10,000 + to sell their property. It's not a lack of due diligence on their part - I expect they used a lawyer who is a pal of the developer - he may even have business interests in the development!

selfserver - Yes, some developers do mortgage the land on which they've built houses - even though the people living in them have paid in full. There's a couple near to me who are in this situation. They have to sell up & go back to the UK due to the husbands health problems, but of course, no-one is prepared to buy. And if you saw the C4 documentary, the participator is currently in the middle of a legal battle to secure his home.

It's all very worrying and potentially disastrous!