does anyone know about property repossession law in northern cyprus?

Kathie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
05/01/2008 15:33

Hi Everyone,

I live and work in the UK but I decided to return to my house in North Cyprus to live for a while only to find a family has moved in and refuse to leave. So not only can I not live there, I can't even use it for my holidays. They do not have a contract or pay rent, a friend has said it will take 2 years of going through the courts to remove them. I would be grateful for any advice, especially from anyone that has experienced problems with squatters.

markcbm


Joined: 20/11/2007
Posts: 115

Message Posted:
05/01/2008 16:13

Hi kathie

I'am so sorry to here of your shock news i can't imagine how hard that was for you, hopefully ERKAN ( ukturk ) will see your post very soon and will be able to give you some advice,(he knows most things)



all the best Mark

Notsoboredhw


Joined: 15/03/2007
Posts: 1254

Message Posted:
05/01/2008 16:17

Hi Kathie



Not normally my style but can't you break in whilst they are out and move their stuff out and then change the locks??? Not sure where you would stand legally but why do these people always seem to get away with it!

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
05/01/2008 17:23

hi kathie

welcome to the forum im sorry to hear about dilema

the thing i dont understand, how did they manage to get in your house without your permission, not meaning to sound rude but is there something you are not saying

what your freind is saying has some truth it can take up to 2 years to go through the courts but normally it takes a shorter time depending on the circumstances it could even take a couple of weeks or months

now if i presume you are being straight up and you dont know these people, you can go to the police with your tapu (kocan) and report them that they broke in and they are living in your home and with their help you can obtain a injunction order to have them evicted straight away,if you do know them and you gave them the place to look after then thats a diffrent ball game you will have to wait for it to go to court

there are a couple of other ways you can go about things firstly like what boredhousewife said break in and change locks or offer them a bribe like pay for their first couple of months rent becaue if you do go thru the courts this cost you more money!!

now the third option if you are desperate there are a few companies that you can pay for them to go down to the property and have them removed from your home like a sort of bailiff

Again i will say depending on the story you are saying or not depends on your course of action, if you say you dont no them and you did not let them live their while you was away the police action will be the best

i hope this helps you if you need more help please dont hesitate in contacting me

ukturk



p.s Good Luck

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
05/01/2008 17:32

Eviciting your squatters is not easy.



Should you remove anything that belongs to them, then they will have you arrested for theft. Should you physically touch them they will have arrested for assault. Should you burn your property down and kill one of them you will be had for murder. Possesion, as they say, is 9/10th's of the law, and in this case the law protects them.........unless you can show that they broke into your house by unlawful means. That is very difficult as they will claim they were given a key by Mr 'X', who has now moved and they don't know where he is. As people are living there, there is a chance that the electric is still in your name. Goto Kibtek. Pay any outastanding bill and ask them to remove the meter. Same with the water meter. No electric, no water will soon make them move.



Ultimately though you will have to resort to legal action to get them out. 2 years, 2 months and 5 days we waited to get an order to remove our squatters, after delaying tactics by them.



Typical ones are, not getting a solicitor until the day of the hearing. The solicitor not being ready for the next hearing. Solicitor on holiday. Solicitor sick. Tenent on holiday. Summer recess. Tenant sacks solicitor on day of hearing. New solictor needs to be engaged. The new solicitor not ready to appeal the case. Your solicitor on holiday. Your solicitor is ill. No translator available in court. Your testimony has not been translated into Turkish. We've heard them all.



In the end we had a result but.........they had left the day before the hearing to return to Turkey. No compensation was payable, and we were left with a 240YTL water bill and 2500YTL electric bill. The electric was in their name but as we were the legal owners it then fell to us to pay before they would change the meter into the owners name. They also caused damage to wardrobes, sinks, the bath, walls that all needed to be replaced and repaired before we could sell it.



That's our story. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Tim10


Joined: 01/01/2008
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
05/01/2008 18:06

It is unfortuante to say, but even in most Western countries squatters have been getting the best of homeowner. Most of what Timothy Cadman said above seems to be true.



If you contact me via my e-mail, I may have a very good attorney that may be able to help you.



If the legal system does not work, consider using someone from organized crime. It night be cheaper in the long run and quicker. However, I have no connections in the realm of organized crime on the island.



Meanwhile, shutting off electric and other utilities so yo udo not get stuck with bills you should not have to pay is a good idea.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
05/01/2008 18:49

Hi kathie welcome to the forum albeit in such upsetting circumstances , where in cyprus are you ? do you have any friends there that can support you ?

let us know

good luck simbas

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
05/01/2008 21:59

hi guys

tim sorry to hear about your story, even thou you had to pay a lot of money to replace things im glad you finnaly got your property back

kathie what tim is saying is very true as long as you are the registered go and cut the electric off and the water get them to remove the metre and get someone to write a statement saying this property belongs to you and whoever tries to connect the water or electric on this address are generally are not regisred owners or tennants and they wont pay the bill and you wont be liable because you are not using it, date this, sign it and ge the muduru (manager) of kibtek and the belideye to sign and then get it notered at the notary office, give kibtek & water copies this covers you so you wont be liable for costs and hard for your squaters to live without water and electric and they wont be able to connect



i must say guys even thou i have heard this happen's in cyprus i have never heard actual stories like what i have heard from you two, where i am at the moment in marmars turkey i hear and see this happen all the time especially to single or widowed ladies lets just say of a mature age

regards and good luck again

ukturk



p.s kathie please dont take offence in me asking and you dont have to answer, is there more to this story or is it just simply you went back to the u.k and some stangers broke in and are squatting your house

jessy


Joined: 04/12/2007
Posts: 289

Message Posted:
06/01/2008 15:31

not suggesting you do this, but heard of a story where the scam was that students would want to rent your property get a copy of the agreement move in and not pay any rent from there on. The person tryed to get them out but couldnt. Called the police but they said you cant put them on the street they will have no where to go.

So he got a friend to enter the property while students were out and removed all of the windows. Students called police but this fellow hadnt done anything was shocked to hear his windows had gone so no proof. Winter was coming and low and behold they got cold they left. A bit drastic i know but it worked.

Tim10


Joined: 01/01/2008
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
06/01/2008 15:33

jessy -- actually this is not a bad idea at all!

grahamlil


Joined: 10/10/2007
Posts: 143

Message Posted:
06/01/2008 19:43

Kathie



No help I know but I see the squatters law is an ASS elswhere other than just Britain.

Sorry to hear of your problems as I have said the law is an ASS



Regards grahamlil

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
06/01/2008 20:06

where is kathie has she disappeared ?

jetl3on


Joined: 10/08/2007
Posts: 56

Message Posted:
07/01/2008 18:04

Kathie -



Sorry to hear your plight, but be wary of accepting contact details from complete strangers on this or any other forum who you just met, and have no prior knowledge of their character or intentions and appear on the surface to be sympathetic to your cause. As all may not be what it seems.



Good Luck



Jetleon Martin

jetl3on


Joined: 10/08/2007
Posts: 56

Message Posted:
07/01/2008 23:25

And another thing, avoid accepting contact details of legal representatives privately, ask for the details to be published on the forum for all to see.

If the company is a reputable firm, they will not mind their details being posted. And of course, if anyone here has experience of dealing with them, they will let you know.



Regards



Jet

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
08/01/2008 01:05

simbas





Kathie has left this planet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
09/01/2008 00:57

Hi everyone



Sorry for not acknowledging your replies sooner but I’m working 2 jobs at the moment with deadlines coming at me from all quarters.



I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone that responded, what a great forum, thank you kyreniachap for the recommendation.



Simbas and lovingcyprus now I’m back to planet earth I’ll explain all!



Ukturk you are very perceptive……yes there’s more to the story, my sister-in-law has a set of keys and checks the house from time to time, it seems she met a woman through some mutual friends who told her that she had been sleeping in a car along with her husband and 2 children, that they had found a house to rent but it would not be vacant for another 2 months……….you can imagine the rest. My sister-in-law has had several big arguments with the family as they have refused to leave and she sheepishly had to tell me everything when I arrived in August. I went to see the woman who told me she would leave within a month but when the month had passed the woman told my sister-in-law to take it to court as there’s no way she’s moving out.



I’m going to try to get over early next month and cut off the utilities and if that doesn’t work I’ve got plenty of other tricks up my sleeve thanks to you lot. After hearing about the experience of TimothyCadman I want to avoid the legal process if I can. I’m feeling a whole lot better about it all now, thanks again and I’ll keep you all posted on my progress.



Kathie

Jayboy


Joined: 16/11/2008
Posts: 18

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 00:03

Tim 10,



I too am having problem with a tenant who has not paid rent for 3 years. My current solicitor is useless. Can you give contact details of the solicitor you know on the board?



Jay

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 00:25

Kathie,



Unfortunatley, as in UK law squatters rights take precedence over the normal rights of the individual.



Because this family were given right of access they are entitled to all utilities and rights of access to the property. If you attempt to cut water and electric supplies you will more than likely end up in jail.



Until this family leave of their own accord or the courts, in due course, throw them out you have a big problem.



I could never figure out squaters rights in the UK I always thought that "an Englishmans home was his castle". So wrong!!!! Here the laws seem to favour squatters even more. Why, who knows?? The law makers are the ones this could effect so why do they make this law so water tight.



As far as I am concerned, anyone who comes into my home uninvited is dead!!!!!



Maybe it is time that all home owners here and UK stood up and told the law makers that squatters are illegal and have no rights.

sylvie


Joined: 12/03/2008
Posts: 1081

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 11:44

kathie,



why do you say " repossession" was this house yours before the war and then people moved in it or is it squaters ? because the solution is different !!!

philnles


Joined: 11/08/2008
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 13:04

I had a friend in England who used to deal with these problems by getting some of his bigger friends to go and squat in the same house,problem sorted.Good luck.

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 13:12

report them to the police as burglers !!

snakes



Joined: 28/10/2008
Posts: 1512

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 15:11

personally i would risk all re theft assault etc and sling the B*********s out ! its incredible that people can thieve your home and have the law on their side !! i sincerely hope you are able to resolve this in an orderly way but if all else fails i would gladly sit outside your house playing my guitar !!! that would get them gone !! good luck dux

britvic



Joined: 05/09/2008
Posts: 3039

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 16:22

What an awfull thing to happen, I hope you get a resolve soon.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 19:05

i'm interested to know which nationality these people are?

sylvie


Joined: 12/03/2008
Posts: 1081

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:14

suzne,

your post doesn't surprise me !! our home in limassol is occupied by a greek lady and i can assure you that this house belong to my husband(TC) family before the war

sylvie


Joined: 12/03/2008
Posts: 1081

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:15

suzne,

your post doesn't surprise me !! our home in limassol is occupied by a greek lady and i can assure you that this house belong to my husband(TC) family before the war

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:23

Snakes

When are you going to do it? I have an 11 string guitar (cant be bothered with the 12th string) and it certainly makes quite a noise especially when I play it. I would be happy to give an impromptu performance or three to keep the occupants happy at 3'oclock in the morning.

AJ

snakes



Joined: 28/10/2008
Posts: 1512

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:30

its a shame that even the most tragic of circumstances becomes victim of peoples political beliefs and this in turn must put off people from posting threads on this website !! Kathie I really hope you get your home back very soon as i am sure you bought and paid for it in good faith no matter what the situation north and south !! If you travel through Harringey and Palmers Green North London you will almost feel that you are in Cyprus yet there are few if any grudges ! its such a shame when this site could and should be used for everyones advantage to all work together to make a pleasant living environment !!

sylvie


Joined: 12/03/2008
Posts: 1081

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:34

suzanne,



i know that i actually a lady lives in it - she has been deported from north to south as well - she knows who we are and we told her not to worry about it -

i just said that because most of the time e discussion is such ike greek lost their lands, their homes - believe me , lots of TC lost their lands and homes I KNOW SO MANY -

no, we do not want to live in it anymore because what is the point to live into a house when all your family or friends are not around anymore!

sylvie


Joined: 12/03/2008
Posts: 1081

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:35

suzanne,



i know that i actually a lady lives in it - she has been deported from north to south as well - she knows who we are and we told her not to worry about it -

i just said that because most of the time e discussion is such ike greek lost their lands, their homes - believe me , lots of TC lost their lands and homes I KNOW SO MANY -

no, we do not want to live in it anymore because what is the point to live into a house when all your family or friends are not around anymore!

snakes



Joined: 28/10/2008
Posts: 1512

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:36

kathie just has to call on me and i'll be there jack !!! you will find that if you cut the first g string to make it a 10 string guitar your augmented will sound more minor and therefore a revolting sound will exude from your axe !! i do it all the time thats why i'm so famous !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm the les dawson of guitarists ha ha

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:38

Posts 1 to 16 were posted in january !!

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:41

Snakes - Personally, I always thought Les Dawson was excellent on piano. Is this like you - actually more difficult to play off key than on? Well, that's what my husband keeps telling me!

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:44

Cooper

Don't spoil the thread Ive almost got myself my first gig.

AJ

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 21:47

Sorry AJ play it again !

snakes



Joined: 28/10/2008
Posts: 1512

Message Posted:
18/11/2008 11:51

Wot just like that ?

yes The-Wicks your right but i dont have to try hard to play off key it comes quite naturally ! i'll show you in April when moved over regards barry

lenny


Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 2

Message Posted:
18/11/2008 15:18

I could move in with them,i snore like mad

T Cadman,cannot believe you were put through that,so unfair

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
18/11/2008 16:24

Take the main fuse out and seal the meter box... They are stealing from you..

rosie123


Joined: 26/05/2008
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
18/11/2008 16:54

Suzanne,i really do not like getting into this type of posting,but that really is below the belt.

Its help Kathie needs,not your cheap remarks

It does make one wonder how you get away with this type of behaviour

Maybe what another poster said about you is true.

You can now post what you like about me,i will not get into conversation with you