«A 200-year-old issue has finally been resolved,» the prime minister noted while speaking at an event on the Land Registry. «One of the most difficult reforms is being completed, providing security and clarity for property owners,» the Deputy Prime Minister added.
Both are from Crete and own olive groves on the island; I’m sure they’re aware of the posting of the provisional cadastral data in Chania and Rethymno, with very tight deadlines.
I am certain that they know that, for large tracts of land, the Land Registry has attributed ownership to the Greek State solely on the grounds that these are alleged to be forests or forested areas. In other words, for years you’ve been declaring on your E9 form that you inherited land in the highlands, paying the “right-through” tax, only to discover from the public notice that it actually belongs elsewhere—to the State.
Apart from the fact that the review of objections to the forest maps is still pending—the process is moving so slowly that some landowners have already passed away— the government has not proven its ownership of these tracts of land.
But it’s state-owned. No, sir. According to Article 62 of Law 998/1979, as currently in force, Crete was exempted from the presumption of state ownership of forests and forested areas, and there is also established case law from the Supreme Court. In order for a private real right over forests to be recognized, as if you were royalty and owned your own forest for hunting woodcocks, you must have a title deed issued no later than July 1, 2001. After that, it’s too late.
If you can figure out the online platform and, above all, speak the language of bureaucracy (Article such-and-such, paragraph so-and-so) or can spend hours at the land registry offices, the fee for each application to correct land registry data is 5 euros. After you’ve first checked the property boundaries, the areas, and all the discrepancies. Excuse me, why was this rejected? Due to insufficient information. But the supporting documents were submitted during the declaration collection phase. Please resubmit them.
Go ahead and look for them if you want—it’s not like you’ll find an engineer, a surveyor, a lawyer, or a forester in just a few days. You go to the cardiologist.
It is not the property, but the enthroned Minotaur that is the serious reason.
Katerina Tzortzinaki
