The international legal status of the lands in Northern Cyprus after the conflict in 1974 raises many questions for potential property buyers. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has not yet received recognition from the international community, and the situation regarding land rights there is quite ambiguous.
Prior to the 1974 conflict and the subsequent division of the territory between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, a significant portion of the land in Northern Cyprus was owned by Greek Cypriots. Currently, the majority of them reside in the southern part of the island, and the likelihood of their return to Northern Cyprus diminishes with each passing year.
However, despite this, there is a risk that returning Greek Cypriots may claim their rights to their land. This could result in new property owners in Northern Cyprus losing their property and their investments. It is this possibility that causes concern for individuals who are unfamiliar with the current state of affairs.
Nevertheless, the reality is different. Titles to land in Northern Cyprus are divided into several types – pre-74 Turkish, Exchange, TMD, and Leasehold.
The Pre-74 Turkish title refers to land or property that belonged to a Turk or foreigner (excluding Greek Cypriots and Greeks) before the division of the island. This title does not raise any claims from Greek Cyprus and is recognized by the international community. There is a small number of lands with this title in Northern Cyprus, mostly found within the interior of the island.
The Exchange title means that the land belonged to a Greek Cypriot or Greek before 1974. After the end of the war, it was proposed to exchange such land in Northern Cyprus for similar land in Southern Cyprus that belonged to a Turkish Cypriot. This allowed Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to move to new lands in their respective parts of the island. If a house has an Exchange title, there is no risk that the land will be reclaimed. However, a similar title in Southern Cyprus is twice as expensive.
The TMD title belongs to Greek Cypriots, the government of Greek Cyprus, or Greeks before 1974. After the war, these lands were transferred to Turkish refugees and military personnel from Turkey. Titles to such lands were issued by the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and are currently guaranteed by the Turkish and TRNC governments. However, there is a limited amount of such land in Northern Cyprus, and developers rarely build on it.
The Leasehold title means that the land is owned by the government of Northern Cyprus and can be leased for 49 years. This type of title is primarily used for tourist projects, such as the village of Karmi.
All of the propaganda from Southern Cyprus against the legality of property titles in Northern Cyprus is nothing but words that have not yet been proven in practice. Over the past 47 years (since 1974), no person who has purchased property in Northern Cyprus has lost their ownership rights.
At present, the Turkish government is compensating Greek Cypriots for their lost lands in 1974, which should resolve all land disputes. All land deals and operations in Northern Cyprus are conducted in accordance with international norms and requirements, giving them legality.
Before property in Northern Cyprus can be acquired, it goes through a legalization process. The first step is to establish the landowner, which involves a request to the state land registry. In cases where the land was previously owned by Greek Cypriots who left Northern Cyprus and moved to the south of the island, they are provided with compensation in the form of land or a monetary sum.
All disputed situations and claims are resolved by the Property Commission of Northern Cyprus, which is authorized by the European Court of Human Rights. No construction company can start building on land that is not registered as ownership. After receiving permission from the state for construction, the previous owner loses their rights to the land.
It is important to understand that “questionable” lands with disputed status will not be used or developed, as developers value both their good reputation and the money they receive from buyers. All processes of purchasing, constructing, and subsequently selling property in Northern Cyprus are carried out on completely legal grounds and comply with all international norms and requirements. Therefore, there is no risk of losing acquired property. The main is to acquire property in Northern Cyprus from reliable developers who are officially registered and have a good reputation.
