Finding a lawyer in Cyprus

Why do you need a lawyer?

Even before you find your dream home in Cyprus, you should find a lawyer who can act for you. This is because the services of a lawyer are critical to the success of any property purchase - they'll make sure that you purchase a fully legal property, devoid of any potential liabilities.

Having a lawyer in place before you put in an offer also shows the estate agent that you're a serious buyer, which is very useful during the negotiation process!

Once you have an offer accepted, just like you would in the UK, you need to have an independent lawyer in place - and you should never sign any documents before you've had it examined by your lawyer.

Finding a lawyer

When you're looking for a lawyer, make sure that you find one who is:

• Fluent in English
• A specialist in conveyancing
• Completely independent of your estate agent and of the seller/developer
• Fully insured to a public liability premium well above the value of your purchase

What your lawyer should do

Your lawyer's fees will typically be around 1-2% of the purchase price, plus IVA (VAT). The tasks they will perform for you include:

• Inspecting any and all paperwork before you sign it 
• Organising surveys and valuations
• Helping you open a bank account in Cyprus
• Checking the property is legal and properly registered
• Checking planning and building permits
• Applying for permission to purchase from the Council of Ministers
• Checking what individual utility meters are in place
• Ensuring there are no outstanding charges or mortgage against the property or that any in place will be satisfied by the sale
• Helping you to set up a Power of Attorney (if you need one)

Find a lawyer