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REPLY BY MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR MR NEOKLIS SYLIKIOTIS – 17.06.2009
It is obvious from the content of the question as well as from other recent reports in the Press and on the Internet that the statement by the Minister of Interior has been misinterpreted as regards the measures the Government is willing to take for resolving the problems that many buyers of holiday homes or other buildings in Cyprus are facing.
The Minister of Interior had stated that with the modifications that are in the process of elaboration, the content of immovable properties sale contracts that have already been signed between sellers and buyers cannot be altered. This fact should be self-evident and not surprising.
The Interior Minister has not stated that the measures that are being studied will not concern those who have already bought houses or other buildings. On the contrary, the measures that are being worked out by the competent Services of the Interior Ministry and concern the amendment of four legislations are aimed primarily at abolishing the full dependency of issuing separate title deeds for each housing unit at housing blocks or buildings from the initiatives of the original owner and seller. Measures will be introduced which will allow the competent authorities to intervene independently in cases where the original owner-seller is indifferent or refuses to implement his obligations regarding the issuing of separate title deeds and additionally, various counter-motives will be provided in order to avert such behaviours.
Moreover, the measures, for which the study is almost complete, entail new regulations allowing the legalisation of some irregularities made to buildings during their construction by imposing appropriate countermeasures, issuing title deeds of various types – depending on the type of problems each building is facing – and other additional powers to the competent Authorities in order to facilitate buyers to evade the various difficulties they might come across in trying to acquire a title deed for the housing unit they bought.
Lastly it is noted that despite the complaints expressed by various buyers, unfortunately there are very few cases where a buyer has sought recourse to the courts against a seller who is not fulfilling their contractual obligations as these are outlined in immovable properties sale contracts. Consequently, the protest of a buyer is not always fully justified, especially when that buyer has signed contracts, without particular study and vigilance, without having secured legal advice for protecting his own rights and without having sought recourse to the courts against the seller, when the latter does not fulfil his own obligations.
The Ministry of Interior will oversee the amelioration of the legislation. However, the buyer must always act with vigilance and secure his own legal advice so that he protects his rights and interests.
17.6.09
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