The new Greek Land Registry and how it affects you…Do you own property in Greece? If you do - or think you do - you need to register it in Greece for the new land registry finally being put into place by the Greek government. If you don't, you may find it difficult or impossible to prove title and avoid boundary disputes down the line.
Despite several previous attempts and millions spent in the past, efforts to create a proper land registry in Greece have foundered before. However, the current plan to begin the process of registering millions of homes and plots of land in Greece’s first ever comprehensive land registry began on June 17. Some three million Greek and expatriate property owners in 107 municipalities nationwide have between June 17 and September 30 to register their title deeds with Ktimatologio AE, the state-owned company in charge of compiling the land registry.
This very short window is likely to be extended as the bureaucracy becomes overwhelmed - why aren’t I surprised that Greece’s efforts to create its first comprehensive land registry look set to get off to an inauspicious start as employees at property records offices in Athens and Piraeus have announced plans to strike?!! The employees said their workload is set to treble once the registration begins and the necessary steps have not been taken to cater for the extra influx.
This land registry process applies to both Greeks living in Greece, and anyone else who owns property in Greece. Those living abroad have until December 30th to register their land, but it may be that earlier claims may prevail in case of disputes, so don't wait until the last moment. And keep notarised copies of any documents submitted in support of your claims.
The registration process is especially crucial for older properties which have not gone through any sort of title search as they have changed hands. Just because your family has "always owned it" won't confer any protection on you during this new process.
Property owners will be able to visit one of the 76 land registry offices to submit the relevant documents or can fill in forms on line at the registry’s website, http://www.ktimatologio.gr/HelCadastre_Page.aspx which offers some information in its English-language version.
Some 3 million Greeks are expected to take part in the process.
The Hellenic Property Foundation (POMIDA), a non-profit organisation representing about 40 property owner groups, described the procedure as being an opportunity for the Government to confiscate property whose ownership is being contested by individuals and the state. The demands proof of property ownership dating back to 1885, if the owner of the real estate is in doubt, said POMIDA.
“This exhausting obligation is driving millions of people to a desperate state, creating a problem of property being repossessed and is expected to turn into the main obstacle in the land registry procedure,” it said in a letter sent to the Environment Ministry.
The registration procedure will cost applicants 35 euros to register each property and another 20 euros for any other facilities, such as separate storage rooms or parking bays.
The Government sets out its aims as follows:
• To definitely secure, without a doubt, the real property of the citizens
• To irrevocably adjudicate the state and municipal property, the forests and the coastal zones
• To limit bureaucracy and simplify the real property transactions
• To improve the protection of the environment by limiting encroachment and unauthorised development of land
• To establish an absolutely secure environment for investments in the real estate market
See http://www.ktimatologio.gr/HelCadastre_Page.aspx
The official Land Registry website in English is but this does not give a step-by-step process for registering.
Note: Please be especially cautious of any offers from anyone to "help" you register. I do, as always, have a first class lawyer, by now known to many Greece Buying Guide readers, who can help you or advise with this process. If you need any legal assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask me and I will get our recommended lawyer to get in touch with you. Just click through to the resources page at:
http://www.GreeceBuyingGuide.com/resources.htm
or email me at:
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