BRITISH citizens campaigning for their property rights in Cyprus are receiving support from their European Members of Parliament. Many have written to their MEPs asking them to put pressure on the Cypriot Government to act.
The following letter was received today from Roger Helmer, MEP for Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire. Addressed to the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU, His Excellency Mr Andreas Mavroyiannis, it says:
Your Excellency,
I have been contacted by a constituent of mine, a Mr. xxxxx xxxxxxx, concerning the property rights of British citizens in Cyprus.
According to Mr. xxxxxxx, 40,000 UK citizens stand to lose their homes in Cyprus as the Cypriot Government has allowed property developers to retain the Title Deeds to properties, and to use them as collateral to obtain mortgages.
As the mortgagee has first call on the properties buyers, who have already paid in full, could stand to lose their homes should the property developer go bankrupt.
This situation appears to be in breach of both Cypriot and EU law.
I would greatly appreciate if you would look into this matter for me, and let me know what you propose to do to rectify the situation for British property owners in Cyprus.
Yours sincerely,
Roger Helmer MEP
Editors note:
Two weeks ago we reported that Lord Jones of Cheltenham had tabled two written questions in the UK House of Lords, asking the British Government to make representations to the Cypriot Government on behalf of its citizens. Written replies are expected tomorrow, 27th November. (See: Property problems – questions raised in the House of Lords for further information.)
Pressure on the Cyprus Government to resolve its long-standing Title Deed problems is mounting.
