If there is an inherited land dispute between Greek Cypriots in Northern Cyprus – are there any legal rights and options?
My grandfather remained in his home in the North of Cyprus during and following the Turkish invasion. The family property/land consisted of three areas: the family home, a courtyard and a section at the side which had a home built for my aunt upon her marriage pre-1974.
In his will, my grandfather left the family home and courtyard to my mother, with the side area passing from my aunt to her daughter (my cousin) – this side area has been redeveloped and a house built with land encroaching the family home area. Due to the overdevelopment of their area, there’s no space left on their side for their parking or a garage.
However, the total area is roughly split 50/50 at present between the two properties.
Unfortunately, in our absence (we live in UK) my cousin’s husband has started living in their home and has built a huge garage in the courtyard area without asking and without permission, and has taken to parking his cars and tractor in the courtyard – refusing to remove it and saying he will only do so if we bring a land surveyor to split the area so he has area to park elsewhere/build the massive garage. I would like to start developing the courtyard area so we have a nice area to sit and relax, and for our children to play.
As a foreigner to the occupied area, I don’t know what our options and legal rights are. We have tried to request nicely and, despite admitting it is not his area, he refuses to move the garage and vehicles.
Can anyone legally act to resolve this in North Cyprus? Can action be taken/determined in republic which binds them in north (as cousins still ‘live’ in republic)? Can compensation be granted at all?
https://i.redd.it/3ffxjb4siluc1.jpeg
Posted by ThemistoclesWorld
4 Comments
If it is 1 piece of land (i.e 1 title deed for the whole thing, regardless of the different sections) and you are 50/50 owner, then you’re shit out of luck. You basically own 50% of everything (and so does he). The option then is to get a surveyor to subdivide the plot in some 50/50 way and you each have separate title deeds and boundaries etc. that you know you can build on.
It gets more complicated with regards to the structures and stuff on the land and any improvements or whatever that have been made. Or when the buildings were registered etc.
Did I understand it right, the land was not assigned to any Turkish Cypriot or settler but the grandfather lived there all the time (it’s probably in Risokarpaso then? )
As a first step, you should go to the land register office (tapu dairesi) with your deeds and documentation and enquire the current status. Also was there ever a probate procedure in the North?
There is surely a way to legally resolve that in North Cyprus but you will need an advocate. Be careful, there are lots of advocates whose only interest is their own pocket, not the interest of their clients.
Personally I would rather look into possibilities to sell your land off because I doubt that it will ever be possible to “sit and relax” in nice area bordering to such neighbours.
Who are the North Cypriot you speak about?
LMAO, gotta park those 2004 mercedes in a tsigkeno parking cover💀💀