AIPP Awaits Policy on Northern Cyprus

As a bit of an addendum to the previous piece on Northern Cyprus, it is interesting to see that the AIPP are formulating a strategy on how they should handle queries relating to the region. The association has sought opinion from a senior barrister in London regarding how it should position its stance on this very sensitive issue. The associations says: "The AIPP is aiming to formulate a policy on the region, which best serves the interests of all potential purchasers and the industry and is in line with the organisation’s remit to ensure its members work honestly, legally and professionally."

Now one question has to rear its head. If the AIPP, a professional body which is involved daily in the legal aspects of property sale across the globe, is unable to formulate a policy on the situation in Northern Cyprus, how can anyone in their right mind justify purchasing a property there under any circumstances. Yet they are. UK citizens are particularly attracted to the area (as they are to the neighbouring south of the island in fairness), but just because property is cheap does not make it a bargain.

If you don't know much about this issue and are considering purchasing property in Northern Cyprus then you should brush up your knowledge of the very famous Oram's case, in which a British couple were ordered by an EU court to return the property on which their villa was built to its owner prior to the Turkish invasion of 1974.

For a brief overview of the Oram's case take a look at this piece from the Telegraph. The piece is from 2006 and the Oram's are still fighting to have the ruling overturned.

The aim of this snippet is not to argue the pros and cons of what is going on in Northern Cyprus, these are matters for a court of law, it is merely to tell people considering investing in Northern Cyprus how much unwanted hassle they could well be bringing on themselves by considering the TRNC as a property destination until the issue of land title has been fully resolved there.

The AIPP decision on its stance on the TRNC is available at www.Aipp.org.uk.

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