Despite the British couple having bought the land in good faith and owning Turkish title deeds proving they owned the land and property, courts have rules that they must demolish their holiday home and return the land to the Greek Cypriot. The Brits have also been ordered to pay damages and a monthly rent until the property has been handed over formally.

Around 167,000 Greek Cypriots fled homes in northern Cyprus following during the turmoil of 1974 and 1975. Around 40,000 Turkish Cypriots also abandoned properties in the south to escape north. The European Court of Human Rights has now ruled in several cases that owners of property in northern Cyprus prior to 1974 continue to be regarded as the legal owners of the property.

The rulings mean that anyone looking to buy foreign property must be very careful, particularly in areas where people have been displaced or there have been wrangles over the legal owners of properties. Even if you hold the legal documents stating you are the owner of the property, it pays to do a little research to ensure that you won’t get caught up in a fight for your property.

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Household/Office Items
The movement of most household and office furniture is permitted into Cyprus on the principle of mutual recognition – that is, every product which has legally been manufactured or marketed in the EU already can be moved to Cyprus without issue.

However anything which could be deemed a risk to Cyprus, for example goods that might endanger Cyprus’ environment, citizens’ health or public policy, may have restrictions on them being brought into the country. There may also be restrictions on the alcohol and tobacco that you can bring into Cyprus. If you have any queries on the items you are moving, it is advisable to speak to Cyprus’ Department of Customs and Excise for more specific help.

There are many freight companies who will be able to handle the logistics of moving your items. Here is a list of our recommended freight companies.

Pets
Pets are welcome in Cyprus as long as there is no intention for the owners to sell them on once they reach Cyprus. However animals must be over three months old before they can be imported into the country and the following breeds may not be brought into Cyprus:

Any form of pit bull terrier
Japanese tosa
Tosa Inu
Dogo Argentino
Argentinean mastiffs
Fila Brasileiro
Brazilian mastiffs

Any pet being brought into the country must have a European pet passport and must have been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to it’s arrival in Cyprus. It must also have been treated for tapeworm with a treatment containing Praziquantel, and against parasites with a treatment containing Fibronil, at least 2 days before arrival in the country.

Any pet being brought into the country must be brought to the attention of the District Veterinary Station. If the animal has not met the requirements, it may be placed in quarantine.

Cars
If you have a tourist visa, you can bring your car into Cyprus for up to six months as long as you have valid insurance on the vehicle. If you remain in Cyprus for over six months, you will need to register your car with the local authorities and pay the relevant registration taxes.

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Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean sea and houses a large variety of terrain – from the hustle and bustle in the major cities through to peace and tranquillity by the seas or in the pine-clad Troodos Mountains. The stretches of clean sand attract many tourists and therefore property investors also enjoy buying real estate near the coasts thanks to their excellent rental opportunities.

BuyingForeignProperty.com’s four recommended areas to invest in are listed below.

Paphos Property

Paphos is a popular coastal town in the south-western area of Cyprus and is home to some of Cyprus’ top beaches. The beaches make it one of Cyprus’ top tourist destinations therefore property in the area should rent well and produce a good return on investment. Paphos is also popular as a second home destination therefore demand for property and real estate is always strong and although this means the property prices won’t be the cheapest on the island, the property market is strong and resell value should be good.

Famagusta Property

Famagusta is famed for it’s beautiful beaches – long stretches of golden sand embrace this coastal town. Although many tourists come to the area for the popular holiday resorts of Ayia Napa and Paralimni, there is also a wealth of culture in the area thanks to a mediaeval monastery and several windmills and churches.

The tourist lures mean that prices will not be the cheapest however rental potential for properties is good. Thanks to the wealth of attractions in the local area, property investors will also be able to choose what market they target for their rental properties.

Limassol Property

Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus and is located on the southern coast. There is plenty of property to invest in on the coast, from small apartments through to luxury villas. The range of property available means that there is something for everyone to buy – from the first-time overseas property investor right through to the seasoned pro – with a range of property on offer from small apartments in the city through to luxury villas on the sea front.

Larnaca Property

Larnaca is the oldest living city in Cyprus and therefore boasts a wealth of history and culture. Home to the country’s major international airport, the demand for real estate and property in the city is always high.

The city has the country’s second largest port and is also a tourist destination in it’s own right. These factors mean that although property prices are relatively high, there is a large range of property to choose from and rental potential and property resale value are good.

Need more persuasion? Read our 10 reasons to buy property in Cyprus
Plus everything you need to know about property ownership in Cyprus

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