North Cyprus Legal Advice
Anyone considering buying property in Northern Cyprus should appoint a lawyer in the TRNC to give them independent North Cyprus legal advice and to handle the conveyancing aspects and application process for permission to purchase real estate.

A lawyer should be chosen on the basis that they are independent of any other party involved in the purchase/sale process (i.e., it is not wise to use the same solicitor as the property vendor or developer), they should be qualified in the laws of Northern Cyprus and in the process of house conveyancing and ideally they should have experience of dealing with property sales in the TRNC involving foreign or non-resident purchasers.

After 1974 the Northern third of the island of Cyprus adopted a legal system that is independent of the legal system used in the southern Republic of Cyprus. As Cyprus was a British colony for so long the basis of both legal systems is definitely British law but Turkish Cypriot law is unique and therefore anyone entering into any form of legal contract '; such as a property purchase contract '; should use the services of a lawyer trained in the legal system of Northern Cyprus.

North Cyprus legal advice can be obtained prior to a property search being undertaken and anyone who has doubts or open concerns about any aspect of the property purchase process or who has questions relating to title deeds in Northern Cyprus for example is advised to spend half an hour or so talking over their concerns with a legal adviser. The time (and money!) will be well spent.

Once a property has been chosen and prior to signing any form of contract '; even a seemingly innocent piece of paper registering your interest in the property '; the purchaser should talk over their decision to buy with their lawyer. If, after speaking to the lawyer and getting his/her independent advice on the matter the purchaser wishes to continue with the sale the lawyer will request of the estate agent, vendor or developer a copy of the kocan (title deed), site plans and builder's permissions/construction availability.

It is the instructed lawyer's duty to then check the site plans and ensure that boundaries and plot sizes are correctly detailed in the contract. Furthermore they have to conduct a land registry search to make sure that all is in order with the kocan (title deed) and that there are no outstanding debts, mortgages or encumbrances attached to the property being offered for sale. The majority of lawyers appointed by those buying property in North Cyprus also handle the application for permission to buy immovable real estate in TRNC for their clients but make sure you discuss what is and isn't included in a lawyer's fees with your chosen legal representative before signing up to use their services.

Finally, the British High Commission's website for Cyprus clearly states ;before purchasing property anywhere in Cyprus you are strongly advised to seek independent qualified legal advice'; so don't just take our word for it! North Cyprus legal advice is essential to ensure any deal you enter into is legal and that your rights are properly protected.

Property Furnishing
Household items can be bought in the T.R.N.C. (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) for roughly the same prices as in the UK. Most international brands can be found, however Turkish makes can be found at a lower price.

Also it's worth noting that some of the well known Turkish brands sold in North Cyprus produce a large portion of the electrical appliances sold in Europe. The only specification that can differentiate them from other appliances is the logo and brand name, but under the hood they are the same. Another advantage of buying the cheaper brand that is made in Turkey is the Warranty that comes with it. Here in North Cyprus for most Turkish brands you will get a 3 year warranty while if you were to buy the exact same appliance with only the brand name being different, in most cases you are only offered a 1 year warranty. But what ever your choice or preference is, Northern Cyprus offers many appliances of different brands.

As with any buy large or small it's always best to shop around. In some cases in North Cyprus you may not find the appliance that you were looking for at the big brand name shops but instead in a supermarket or some small shop somewhere. However, remember while most people here do speak some English they may not know or understand what you are asking for, as a result if you have the time its better to take a quick scan at the shelves to see if you can spot it for yourself. This is not an uncommon phenomenon unique to Northern Cyprus. At large retailers around the world while clerks may know what they are selling, things tend to be forgotten in the mass of goods sold.

Title Deeds
There are different types of title deeds in the T.R.N.C. (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus), which are as follows:
Pre-74, British or foreign owned before 1974.
Turkish Title deeds, Turkish owned, before 1974

Post 74 Turkish Cypriot Ownership (T.R.N.C. title deed): Given to Turkish Cypriot in compensation, for land left in South Cyprus (exchange land, property known as Esdeger) or awarded to Turkish Cypriots by the Northern Cyprus government. Based on the 1983 T.R.N.C. Constitution, all the deeds rectified and named as T.R.N.C. deeds are freely transferable to foreigners.

Freehold: when buying property of any kind, there are specific regulations to be followed, for the title deed (or kocan, in Turkish) to be transferred into the purchaser's name. Let Stringer Estates guide you through the maze of bureaucratic paper work and regulations. We can say that we have done that, and been there, so let our experience, make your experience as pleasant as it can be.

Leasehold properties in North Cyprus are owned by the T.R.N.C. government which will grant long term leases of up to 49 years. Again it is useful to have some one walk you through the process of finding out what you get, and what responsibilities you will have as property owner.

Post 74 Turkish Cypriot Ownership (T.R.N.C. title deed): Given to Turkish Cypriot in compensation, for land left in South Cyprus (exchange land, property known as Esdeger) or awarded to Turkish Cypriots by the Northern Cyprus government. Based on the 1983 T.R.N.C. Constitution, all the deeds rectified and named as T.R.N.C. deeds are freely transferable to foreigners.

When buying property of any kind, there are specific regulations to be followed, for the title deed (or kocan, in Turkish) to be transferred into the purchaser's name. Let us guide you through the maze of bureaucratic paper work and regulations.

Buyers Guide
It is not at all difficult to purchase your dream home in the T.R.N.C., in fact, the hardest part will be selecting a property from our extensive portfolio!
However, there are a number of lengthy in-depth checks carried out by the Ministry of Interior, mainly to determine that the property titles are free from encumbrances, this of course, is of benefit to you, the purchaser.

So what is the process for buying a freehold property
Decide on a property and agree a price.

Contracts will then be drawn up by a solicitor, setting out the terms of sale: price, timescale, purchaser and vendor details and any other relevant conditions including the payment plan for new-build properties.

Signing of contracts by vendor and purchaser.

Purchaser provides an agreed deposit.

There will be an agreed payment schedule within your contract when purchasing off-plan stipulating that payments will be required at certain stages during constructing thus spreading the cost and only paying when each stage is completed.

Solicitor applies for your purchase permit from the Council of Ministers.

Once the purchase permit has been issued, the remaining balance is due from the purchaser.

The vendor will then sign the title deed into the name of the purchaser, stamp duty will be paid and this is known as transfer of title deeds.

THIS COMPLETES THE SALE