Mediators get to work on the Land Registry

From the beginning of next year, and after the relevant certification has been obtained, the following will start work: mediators for the Land Registry. What does this mean for owners? It means that they are given the option (if they wish) to resort to them in order to resolve any land registry disputes, paying €25 per hour.

Property owners now have until the end of December 2022 to check or correct the initial cadastral registrations of their properties, while the Electronic Property File is being introduced, through which the transfer process begins and is completed at the notary's office with the digitization of all necessary certificates. In addition, the opening of the respective Land Registry Office will be accelerated by two years, which will take place immediately after the posting of the 98% properties; for the 2%, all pending issues will be recorded.

Below is all the necessary information for property owners to navigate safely through the new landscape that has been created in the Land Registry following the passing of the new law.

1) Where has an extension been granted for the collection of declarations?;

Low participation in Rethymno and the Cyclades (ranging from 51% to 3% of eligible properties) forced the Land Registry to extend the deadline to November 15 for Rethymno and November 22 for the Cyclades.

2) Where does the collection of statements begin?;

On October 18, the collection of declarations begins in the rest of Chania and a few weeks later in the rest of Heraklion in Crete.

3) In which areas has the process not yet begun?;

So far, Corfu and Thesprotia have fallen behind in planning due to legal appeals. Here, the collection of statements is expected in the new year.

4) Which areas have very low rates of declaration collection?;

According to sources familiar with the matter, apart from the aforementioned areas (i.e. Rethymno and the Cyclades), Chios, Samos, Lemnos, Lesbos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Kythira, Agistri, Poros, Spetses, Hydra, Argolis, Corinthia, Achaea, Troizinia, Mandra, and Vilia (Eidyllia).

5) What happens if a property is not registered in the Land Registry?;

Failure to declare a property in the Land Registry means that it is prohibited to draw up a legal transaction and grant a building permit for the property.. Here, it should be noted that proof of submission of the declaration must henceforth be mentioned and attached to the contract, as well as mentioned in the building permit, and kept in the file of the service responsible for issuing the permit.

6) What about fines in the Land Registry?;

They have been frozen until January 1, 2023.

7) Will they be paid?;

Based on the information available so far, yes. However, other restrictions also apply, such as, for example, the fact that now (since the new law was passed) no transfer can take place if the property is not registered in the Land Registry, nor can a building permit be issued.

8) The areas with the most problems?;

As sources from the Land Registry explain, because errors were found in the recording of assets in Messinia, and specifically in the Municipality of Trifilia, the pre-registration has been suspended and the process will be repeated in the near future. The Land Registry will issue a relevant announcement on the matter. At the same time, pressure is being exerted to do the same in the «neighboring» municipalities of Pylos-Nestoras (in the Koryfaio area) and Oichalia.

9) What applies to pre-postings?;

Today, Wednesday, October 13, the pre-posting in Arcadia ends, and until October 27 it will take place in Evrytania and Fthiotida, and until November 5 in Messinia (after the last extension that was granted). Within the next three months, pre-posting is expected to begin in Rodopi, Kavala (Thasos), Ioannina, Chalkidiki, Boeotia, Phocis, and Euboea.

10) What happens after pre-posting?;

Until the completion of the cadastral survey, the beneficiary has the option to submit a request for additional information and provide additional supporting documents (e.g., contracts, transfer certificates, etc.), if they have declared their registrable rights but there are still outstanding issues.

11) For the posts?;

Until the end of October (29/10), postings will be made in Corinthia and Aigio, while within the next quarter, postings are expected to begin in Western Attica (Megara – Oinoi), Achaia (Aigio), Larissa, Thesprotia, Ioannina, Karditsa, and Evros (Didymoteicho – Orestiada – Alexandroupoli – Soufli – Samothraki).

12) What changes after posting?;

After posting, for each transaction (e.g., drafting a contract, etc.), it is mandatory to attach the Certified Real Estate Certificate (PKA).

13) What is this?;

It is a certificate issued by the Land Registry, granted only electronically upon request by the interested party, and briefly describes the property.

14) How much does it cost?;

The cost of issuance is €5 per property and payment is made by payment card.

15) If a property has not been declared (it appears in the Land Registry as «owner unknown»), can it be declared out of court?;

Following the latest law passed in the summer, it is now easier for owners to correct the registration of «unknown owner» out of court rather than in court. As provided, if the State does not respond within 60 days of notification of the application, it is presumed to consent to the owner's request.