What is the time difference with the UK?
Turkish Cyprus is two hours ahead of UK GMT time

Will I need a travel plug?
The electricity is 240v and the UK style 3 rectangular pinned plugs and sockets are used.

What is the official language01 in Northern Cyprus?
The official language is Turkish; however English is a business language and widely spoken.

What is the banking system like? Is it possible to open a bank account in Northern Cyprus in £?
There are a lot of local private banks in N. Cyprus as well as branches of the Turkish banks. You would be able to open the currency accounts (in £) which offer good interest rates. However we do recommend you to go for the reputable banks as there were instances of bankruptcy of the local banks in the past. HSBC International has opened its branches in Kyrenia (Girne) and Nicosia (Lefkosa), which is a sign of financial and political stability on the island.

Is the local driving license required in Northern Cyprus?
Driving in Cyprus like in many other ex-colonies is on the left, which should not create any problems. You would be allowed to drive on your UK Driving License for the period of three months, after that you would need to apply for a permanent driving licence.

Is it possible to bring personal possessions (furniture, pets, etc) into the country?
There are several removal companies that offer this service. The price depends upon the cubic metre capacity. To shop around for quotes would be the best route to follow. We can provide you with several contact numbers to get in touch.

There are no harsh requirements on bringing pets into the country if you have a UK vet certificate stating that the animal has not got any infectious diseases, which needs to be presented to the Ministry of the Agriculture. The quarantine period is 4 weeks. Bear in mind that you would have to look after your pet during the quarantine period as this service is not offered.

How long does it normally take to complete the purchase of the property in Northern Cyprus?
Approximately 12-14 months, purely because of the checks that are carried out during the application process.

What types of deeds are available?
Like in UK there are two main types of deeds in TRNC, like in UK - Freehold and Leasehold deeds. However, there are some significant differences the UK buyer should be aware of when he comes to buy a property in Northern Cyprus.

Leasehold property or land is as a rule restored buildings which are leased to the foreign nationals by the Government for the period up to 49 years. The ground rent is negligible. Typical example of such properties could be found in the well established Karmi Village near Kyrenia (Girne), where originally all foreign nationals settled. Most of them are English, but also other European nationals, like Germans, Swiss, and Dutch live here.

There are three types of deeds for Freehold property, which differentiate significantly, but all of them are absolutely legal.

The first one is the Freehold property that belonged to the foreign owner (pre-1974), which could be rarely found on the market these days, as the owners consider it a good investment and do not feel like parting with it when the property prices are going up.

Second type is the deeds that belonged to Turkish Cypriots before 1974, which are also internationally recognised title deeds.

Third type is the TRNC absolute possession document, which was issued to Turkish Cypriots in compensation of their lost property in the Southern part of island by TRNC Government. The land or property before the conflict belonged to the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots signed over their property left in the Southern part of the island in favour of the TRNC, who used the full possession title in return. It is also often referred to as a basis points land. However, the buyer should be aware that some plots of land or property located close to military sites cannot be completed (e.g. your name will not appear on the title deeds). It is a common belief that the TRNC title deeds issued to the military serviceman for their service on the island carry the high risk of repossession, as they were issued not on a basis point system, but as a reward for the services.

The land and property with no title deeds issued (that belonged to Greek Cypriots pre-1974 and not reclaimed by the Turkish Cypriots) as well as "pending ownership" (the purchase that did not complete pre-1974) are illegal and are not considered safe.

Your new home could be at risk if you complete your purchase without confirmation of the titled deeds by a solicitor! Secret of the Med Estates do not deal with property without title deeds!

What are the costs involved when purchasing a property in Northern Cyprus?
There are solicitors fees. We work closely with a solicitor in Northern Cyprus who we can refer.

The stamp duty is 6% of the property value, but more often than not the valuation is lower than the selling price of the property.

Also the buyer has to bear in mind the sales tax (VAT) at 5% on newly built property.

Sales and stamp duty tax is payable to the Land Registry office when the permission to buy is granted and the property is completed as well as a nominal registry fees (in the region of £ 200).

Can we use our own UK solicitor?
No. You must use a solicitor based in Northern Cyprus. You can however use a solicitor of your choice, although we do have a number of recommended solicitors that we would be happy to introduce you to.

Are there any limitations on buying property in Northern Cyprus for foreign persons?
Yes, there is a limitation. The land in Northern Cyprus is measured in donums. The foreign national cannot buy more than 1 donum of land (which is 1,338 square metres or approximately 14,000 square feet) for one property. This area of land will satisfy the majority of our clients. In the case where you want a bigger piece of land, this can be easily met by adding members of your family as the owners or by forming a local company to buy the land in its name.

What is the cost of living in Northern Cyprus?
Living costs in the Northern Cyprus are much cheaper than the UK and most of Europe. There is no rates system at present, or community tax. The main costs are electricity which costs 0.106 New Turkish Lira per KW which is the equivalent of 4 pence per KW. (approx. £ 15 monthly per house), water costs 20 New Turkish Lira + %13 VAT for 0-20 Tons of water per month which is the equivalent of £8 for 0-20 tons of water per month and an annual council tax is less than £ 40 (£2.90 per month which includes waste collection, pavement and road cleaning, etc.). Central heating is rare in N Cyprus but is usually run on gas or oil. Most cookers are run on gas canisters (1 gas canister costs approx. £6 and lasts as long as 2/3 months) and/or electricity.

There is a wide selection of consumer goods of high quality in North Cyprus. In addition to locally produced goods almost all foreign brands are available on the market. It can be estimated that the cost of foodstuffs generally is about half or even less than UK prices. Items such as local brandy, retailing at around £1.20 sterling per bottle, 1 loaf of bread (weighing 300 gr.) at £0.13, 1 Lt. of long life UHT milk at £0,39, a pack of 20 B & H cigarettes at £0,69, etc.

Most household items can be bought in North Cyprus at about the same price as Europe. Most international makes and models are available (Whirlpool, Kelvinator, Candy, Philips, Pioneer, Panasonic, Siemens, Arthur Martin, Bosch, Tefal, Beko, Sony etc) Auctions are also held monthly where a vast array of items can be purchased at reasonable prices.

What flights are available to Northern Cyprus?
There are both scheduled and charter flights from England and other European countries with more than 60 flights a week arriving at Ercan airport during the summer.

All planes travelling into Northern Cyprus however, must touchdown on the Turkish mainland prior to arrival - you simply stay on the aircraft during the stopover.

Cyprus Turkish Airlines, (0207 930 4851) fly regularly from Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester to Ercan. Flights are also available from Glasgow on Mondays from May to October. You can also contact Turkish Airlines (0207 766 9300) and TWI (+90 392 220 0121/0122). Cyprus Paradise (020 8343 8888) and Green Island Holidays (020 7637 7338) both offer flight only deals to the North.

Also, there are both scheduled and charter flights to Larnaca in South Cyprus. Larnaca is about an hour and a half's drive to Kyrenia.

Alternatively there are direct scheduled flights from Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Adana and Antalya in Turkey. Due to positive recent political developments across the island it is likely that direct flights will begin fairly shortly. The main carrier is Cyprus Turkish Airlines (Kibris Turkish Airlines).

What are the holiday letting opportunities?
The Northern Cyprus holiday market is growing rapidly and there can be a shortage of hotel rooms during peak seasons. The letting market is therefore buoyant and we can put you in contact with a reputable management and letting service.

Will I need permission to live in Northern Cyprus, and if so how do I obtain this?
Yes, you are required to to submit an application to apply for residency in Northern Cyprus. This is generally a formality, but is essential for peace of mind. When you arrive on the island, you are automatically given a 90 day visa and if you intend staying beyond that date you must apply to the immigration office for a temporary resisency permit. The process can last up to 3 months and will involve some travelling between offices. Should you like a little help with this process, then we would be happy to introduce you to the necesarry people. For a small fee, they will accompany you to all the relevant offices and guide you through the entire process.

What kind of return can I expect from my investments?
The growth in Northern Cyprus has been steady over the past 3 years and is continuing to increase at approximately 25% - 30% per annum. With prices still a 1/3 of most parts of the mediterranean, purchasing properties in this beautiful part of the world can be very lucrative indeed.

How will we keep an eye on the progress of our property?
We have an after-sales team who will ensure to e-mail you 'up-date reports' and photos as regularly as possible. This is offered as a free service to all clients, and although we can not guarantee the regularity of updates, we will endeavour to make them as often as possible.

Where is the best place for investment property?
There is no 'best place', although the areas of Esentepe and Bahceli are very popular at the moment with the opening of the new coastal road, construction of North Cyprus's first 18 hole championship golf course and country club (opened Spring 2006), and the brand new marina (due to open in Spring 2007). Alsancak is also a good choice, with a proven track record, and established community.

How is land measured in Northern Cyprus?
Land in Northern Cyprus is measured in Donums. A donum is equivalent to about 1/3 of an acre, or 1,338m2. There are 4 evleks to a donum, and 3,600 square feet to an Evlek.

Do I need to make a will?
We would advise you to set up a will in Northern Cyprus, as a UK will is not valid here.

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