The National Cadastre of Greece is requesting submissions of property registrations. Starting February the 25th 2019, you will be obliged to register your property with the National Cadastre of Greece as to secure your rights to said property/properties. The time limit on the registration is 3 months if you are a domestic resident Greece and 6 months to those who live abroad.
Everything you need to know about the Land Registration process
Here is some information about what this means, who needs to declare and how to do this.
1.What is Land Registry and Cadastre?
It is a complete listing of all property and recordable rights of ownership on a national level, with a view to protecting and enforcing them. A cadastre is a comprehensive land recording of the real estate or real property’s metes-and-bounds of a country.
2. When does land registration begin in the area and who has to register?
The first phase of land registration (initial registration) is the submission of declarations by citizens who have property rights in the particular area under cadastre. The registration is mandatory.
If a property belongs to more than one person, everyone who has a right on the property must declare the property in separate registrations.
3. What happens after the initial registration?
Subsequently, the contractor of the cadastral study proceeds to the cross-processing of the declarations. After completion of the processing of declarations and other data, temporary cadastral tables and diagrams are drawn up. The posting of the cadastral data follows a CSCE announcement and publication of the announcement of posting in two newspapers of the prefecture or the region. Beneficiaries are then entitled to submit applications for correction of obvious errors or objections on a case-by-case basis. If, for example, there is an error in the identity of the property, its area, etc., the beneficiary may raise an objection or request a correction of the error. The deadline for the objection is (2) two months. After examining the correction of obvious errors and objections and the issuing of relevant decisions, the cadastral tables and diagrams are reformed.
4. What is the difference between the new Land Registry and the existing system?
In summary, the Land Registry is a system much more modern and integrated than the old Mortgage and Transmission system supported by chartered notaries. By registering in the cadastral register a complete recording of the information concerning each property is achieved, combining spatial and legal information that allows searching on the basis of real estate rather than owner and provides access to a complete database.
5. What happens to properties that are not declared?
These properties are recorded as having an “unknown owner”. After the completion of the cadastral survey, which lasts about 4 years, a period of 7 years applies to contest this status. If a property in not declared within this timeframe ownership passes to the state. Late declarations are fined and depending on the situation can have complications
6. How is property declared with the Land Registry?
A declaration form is filed for each recordable title to the property. The submission of the Declaration can be made either by the owner of the property or by a legal representative (appointed by the beneficiary).
7. In addition to the Declaration, the following supporting documents are also required:
- Copy of titles that substantiate acquisition rights (Contracts/Deeds)
- Land registry fee payment receipt
- Copy of photo ID or passport photocopy
- A copy of a Payroll or PPC Account or any official document showing the VAT number of the owner of the property
- Building permit (if applicable) and other relevant documents (E9 Tax Form), stating the surface of the building. This document is necessary in the case, when a plot has been bought first and then the house was built
8. Optional documents to be submitted:
- A copy of the transcript of the relevant land registry
- Topographical survey. The topographic survey should comply with the Coordinate Network of EGNAs ’87 so that it can be identified with the coordinate network requested by the Land Registry.
It is highly recommended that a topographical survey is submitted in order to ensure correct identification of boundaries and allocation. Further documents are required for special cases
7. How much does this cost?
The registration fee, payable to the Greek state is 35€ per registration (each right on a property is a different registration), that is categorized as a main area (apartment, house, office, plot of land) and 20€ for those categorized as auxiliary spaces. (Parking garage, warehouse, storage areas)
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If you want help with registration, we recommend you contact the same lawyer who helped you with the investment.
