Title deeds fight heads to Europe

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
17/04/2011 13:25

FED-UP property buyers have decided to change tack and pursue their title deeds through Brussels, arguing that the holding back of the deeds violates the EU directive on unfair commercial practices.

The Sunday Mail has seen copies of letters which are being sent to the EU Commission and also to British Prime Minister David Cameron from UK MEPs, which they and the Cyprus Property Action Group (CPAG) hope could prompt some action.

It is expected that most or all of the 72 MEPs will sign the letters which are part of a coordinated plan, said CPAG’s Denis O’Hare, who believes the move could be a “title-deeds game-changer”.

“EU Directive 2005/29/EC - Unfair Commercial Practices was transposed into Cypriot law via 103 (I) /2007, effective December 2007 with the Commerce Ministry as the enforcement agency, yet was never properly promoted publicly as required under the Directive,” said O’Hare. “Lawyers we have talked to had not even heard about it.”

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
17/04/2011 13:26

O’Hare said that currently the English-language version of the Commerce Ministry’s website contains no reference to the Directive “nor does the consumer protection legislation section of the Cyprus Consumers’ Association website”.

According to O’Hare, the role of the Competition and Consumer Protection Service (CCPS) has also been kept under wraps. He said EU documents show that: ‘Where the Competition and Consumer Protection Service of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, upon an investigation, considers that there is a violation, it may - if it deems necessary - apply to the District Court for the issue of a prohibitory ?r mandatory order, including the interim order, against any person who, according to the Court's opinion is liable for this violation.’

O’Hare said this suggests that the CCPS would take any court action on behalf of complainants.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
17/04/2011 13:28

To the tens of thousands without title deeds and whose homes are at risk due to developer mortgages, the withholding of their deeds would seem the most unfair commercial practice of all,” he said.

It is believed that well over 100,000 home buyers are without title deeds, one third of them foreigners. “Moreover, this grossly unfair practice also gives rise to other unfair practices by developers, such as cancellation charges, IPT and other scams,” O’Hare added.

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/title-deeds-fight-heads-europe/20110417

walkerscott


Joined: 13/08/2009
Posts: 901

Message Posted:
17/04/2011 13:59

Good article Wanderer. It may well begin to offer some help to those in the RoC and may have some effect later on in TRNC.

http://no-deeds-no-money.moonfruit.com

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
17/04/2011 21:16

http://www.news.cyprus-property-buyers.com/2011/04/17/title-deed-fight-heads-to-european-court/id=007466



Another article on this very crucial matter,



Paul.

Zoots


Joined: 05/02/2011
Posts: 669

Message Posted:
18/04/2011 02:50

But this refers to Cyprus i.e. the RoC. "TRNC" is regarded as Turkey.