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Questions & Answers

Q.: We are the point of deciding whether to have a skimmer or overflow type pool. Any suggestions on this? Please could we have your opinion within the next 15 days since our contractor is pressing us for an answer? We love your Q+A column.
Janet & Glen MacGregor

A.: Having said about love, who am I not to answer to you within your deadline! The normal size pool for an 8 m. x 4.0 m. (1.40 m. depth) skimmer type costs approximately £8.000 (including one meter of stone pavement around etc). The overflow costs around £12.000. So, first it is a matter of cost. Also an overflow pool looks better and it cleans better since leaves etc do not have to reach the skimmers to be absorbed etc. Usually the skimmer type for the size quoted has 2 skimmers. So if you opt for the skimmer (due to cost etc) ask for 3 or 4 skimmers two on either side. This will improve the cleaning but with no much more cost. Did I meet your deadline my friends?

A.P. Loizou

Q.: Cyprus has a problem with fires and very little wood/trees. So don’t you think that it is about time that open fireplaces in houses should be abolished?
Lenios Christou

A.: I do not recall of any forest fires being caused by a fireplace but it can happen. People’s stupidity and indifference is more to blame Lenios. In any case there is a gadget that you can place on top of the chimney, a stainless steel round object with fins which helps the air flow and limits any fire chips escaping outside the house. On your second point, I will say this is a bit drastic. We could import wood for fireplaces from abroad, as we do charcoal. I do appreciate your concern however.

A.P. Loizou


Q.: What is the cost of building a home nowadays Mr Loizou? When we bought our plot, on which we planned to build our holiday home, the cost was around £500/sq.m. We read your column regularly and we have the impression that now is considerably more, to the extent that we are considering whether we can afford it.
Kyriakos & Helen Sparsis

A.: It is very open-ended question my friends, since costs depend on design, quality, topography, facilities etc. But I will say that for a house, which costed £500 3 years ago, the current rate now is around £650-£750/sq.m. On a more positive side, your plot’s value must be worth around double. So work with your finances and if you are having difficulty, look around for good opportunities that exist now in the touristic areas, since you can get good buys. Have your plot appraised and think of the alternatives (selling your plot and buying a ready made home) and decide accordingly.

A.P. Loizou

Q.: I have read your Q+A column on the lady who wants her sons to work in Cyprus and your reply. Well done Mr Loizou for your help and your attitude towards young people. I also noted your Cambridge scholarships as well as that of Reading University. Well done again.
This is the third time I am writing the same letter to you and your refusal not publishing it does not satisfy me. If you are doing a good job for the young, why your readers should not be informed about it?
Stella H” Spyrou – U.K.

A.: Thank you Stella for your touching letters. Our “social” activities for the young and others, as a firm, is not known, neither we have the policy of promoting it.
Young people is our future and we must all help in a united E.U.
A.P. Loizou
Q.: I have read a story about an English person who has been beaten by the developers, who sold his house to another British person. Yet nothing has happened in terms of justice. Don’t you think that this sort of thing and the bad publicity that this person is giving does not help the real estate market for our island? I understand that this person is camping out of the London Cyprus High Commission for sometime now giving out leaflets etc. Do you know anything about this, since foreign people must think that this is a Mafia country?
Helena Powel

A.: I am aware of this very sad situation, as well as others, but I am not aware of the facts (both sides). I cannot be a judge on this, especially since the case is under police investigation (not all buyers are angels I can tell you). From the buyer’s side it appears that the police have done very little, as well as the Attorney General. On another note I get letters (not published) expressing fears of not submitting a complain, because “they are afraid” from some developers/contractors. Although I do appreciate that a foreign person wishing to have a house here the least of his worries should be court cases etc, I always say do not be afraid of barking-teethless dogs. I have had a similar experience as an Office and our case after a lot of pressure is leading to courts. I suggest to you the readers of this column, do not fear. Go through the legal channels and although justice here takes a long time, it is there at the end.

A.P. Loizou

Q.: We are at the final stages of completing our house and I am in two minds whether to use marble floor finish or ceramic tiles. The word marble alone rings nicely to my ears and hopefully if and when the time comes to sell it, it will do the same to a potential purchaser (should I wish to sell it after sometime). What do you think Mr Loizou?
Garry Gates

A.: If I were you I would try to avoid marble especially the ones with white color. Admittedly it looks nice and it has the prestige element, but it gets stained and dirty over the years since marble tends to absorb water, dirt etc. Also some type of marble get chips coming off them. So, unless it is a very good quality marble, try to avoid it. Ceramics do not look as nice but they do not have the problems I have mentioned. Use marble for wall (e.g. bathrooms etc), granite for kitchen-bathroom counters and parquet or ceramic tiles in the rest of the house. You might not appreciate what I am suggesting to you now, but you will remember me after 8-10 years (time I suspect when you will sell your house).
All the best

A.P. Loizou
Q.: We have heard (admittedly at our local pub) that couples who are not married/ or married under civil law/or are not married in Cyprus, they are not considered as being a “legal” couple, hence they cannot benefit the tax allowance that couples can benefit with, with respect to real estate. Any truth in this?
J & K

A.: I do not understand what exactly you refer to regarding the property’s tax exception, but I can assure you that a valid wedding is treated here as such independently of the religion. You do appreciate it must be a marriage recognized as such in one’s own country, civil marriages are OK. Your pub, it seems, is a source of some form of education, be it misleading.
A.P. Loizou
Q.: I understand that under Cyprus law I am not allowed to leave my property under a will to whom I wish. I find this strange since it is my property, which I gained through my own efforts and I must surely be allowed to leave it to whomever I want.
J. & L.

A.: This is a serious question and I do suggest you contact a lawyer. If you are not domicile in Cyprus, your rights are governed by the U.K. (if you are British) law or the law of your country of domicile. If you are in Cyprus-domicile in Cyprus there are restrictions where you can leave your estate, the percentage that you can give away, the rights of children/wife etc etc.

A.P. Loizou

Q.: We wish to have a garden full of trees and our over 1.000 sq.mts. plot allows us to do so. Following your advice we have planted local trees such as pines, carob and olive trees. Yet and despite our 3 year upbringing they now seem to be drying, few at a time – Any experience on this Mr Loizou, since these trees are like our children. We spend so much time and we get so much enjoyment from them we will be very sad to lose them.
Susan & Pat Kofsou –Moni

A.: I assume that you water them regularly (although once a week for 1 hour is sufficient). From there on you must analyze the water quality if it contains increased volume of salt etc. If all is OK check the sub soil. Sometimes there are rock planes underneath the roots the top soil of 1-2 feet. The rock concentrates the water and the trees dry. Use the services of a good gardener, who knows what he is




talking about, or, even better, use the services of the Forestry Department (pleased to help and without charge with first class advice). The feeling of losing your trees I came to know myself on many occasions.


A.P. Loizou

Q.: Is there a scale fee regarding valuation reports on real estate in Cyprus or each individual charges whatever he thinks is right? I have been quoted so many different figures for a simple valuation for sale/buy of our home, that you are my last resort.
Nino Mercury

A.: There cannot be an “agreed” valuation fee amongst local valuers due to E.U. regulations. So each firm has its own scale. On the whole however, I will say that a valuation fee ranges from 1‰ to 1½‰ for a simple straightforward valuation for acquisition/disposal purposes subject to a minimum of around £100-£150 (+V.A.T.). In case of high worth properties (homes) there is a prevailing maximum of around £500-£600 (+ V.A.T.). But I repeat myself that, prior to appointment ask for a quotation and agree upon. What is more important is to engage a professional firm of valuers (preferably a Chartered Surveyor) who are governed by standards (be it they differ from firm to firm) of the Royal Institution.
I take this opportunity to add here that in the U.K. and other E.U. countries, some of the international valuations/property consulting firms, they add at the end that “they bear no responsibility”. This I cannot accept and I wonder how these firms are allowed to use such a clause. We have done with one of the U.K.’s prestigious chartered surveyors firms a job in Cyprus about a port and whereas our report was unconditional, the U.K.’s firm was conditional as “not bearing responsibility”!!
A word of caution. If the valuation report is for court especially in case of compulsory acquisitions, the fees are much more – get a quotation beforehand since it can reach £2.000-£3.000 (+ V.A.T.).

A.P. Loizou

Q.: I have applied to the Registrar of Estate Agents to be so registered. I have been awaiting for the last 6 months for a reply and despite my numerous letters of reminder, I have had no response. Can you help me Mr Loizou?
Linda J.
A.: A well known problem. Not the best body to get a reasonably quick response. I will call them for you Linda and find out why this situation is repeating itself. All the best with your application.

A.P. Loizou

Q.: I have read your reply on young people wishing to train in Cyprus and the disadvantage you say that not knowing the Greek language is a serious problem. Surely with a boom property market and with such a large number of foreign demand, speaking Greek is not an absolute necessity. Why you discourage the young Mr Loizou to come here?
Fiona Fellini

A.: Far from it dear Fiona. I have said that young non Greek speaking people could be employed most likely with the local developers as opposed to local professional firms. Local firms must submit reports, attend meetings with the Lands office and other authorities and deal mostly with locals and appear in court etc. As a firm, we have taken on, this year alone 4 young graduates and I am all for the young (and not only in staff matters, see our educational-scholarship policy on the subject etc). The problem with a young graduates getting a job with a developer etc may not count as “an approved training office” by the various professional institutions that these young people might want to join.
There is such an abundance now of young people from U.K. looking for a job (due to the state of the property market there) that there are numerous inquiries on the subject. Alas the situation has started not to be very good here as well (be it not as bad on the job front). As it always happens with the Cyprus property boom over the last 10 years, numerous young have been directed towards a postgraduate degree in real estate (the first degree being on an unrelated subject). These youngsters will always have a disadvantage as opposed to those who have a real estate first degree (3 year course as opposed to an 8 month only + the first degree). This system works OK in large countries and large organizations where the various professionals do a small bit of the whole. In Cyprus, on the contrary, a professional firm is called upon to be an all rounder. So if young people wish to follow this profession, I do suggest to have a 3 year first degree in real estate, as a prerequisite, increasing their chance of a successful career in the future.
I regret for my elongated letter, but I took the opportunity to let the younger generation know of the circumstances here.

A.P. Loizou

Q+A: An elongated letter has been received from Mr Goran Svensson who is a representative of the Swedish Sawmills in Cyprus regarding my advice to Petro Dais to opt for a concrete pitched roof, instead of timber one. He claims that a timber roof can accommodate an attic as much as a concrete roof. I beg to disagree. Timber roofs have interrupting members reducing the attic size to minimal. I repeat that the quality of our craftsman in Cyprus and the quality of imported timber (untreated) including bad storage conditions and very low quality of craftsmanship are all reasons to avoid a timber roof. Mr Svensson suggests to get skilled timber/roof craftsman. I agree and I would love to have their names since it is a rarety in this country.


A.P. Loizou

Q.: Dear Sir,

I have been a great admirer of yours for a long time now and of the way you try and help people with their problems. I never thought that I would be one of those, but now find myself in need of professional help.

I first came to Cyprus as a widowed old aged pensioner in 1992. I always rented my houses and I have had 3 over the years. In June 2006 I rented a property, having had to leave the last house because of the excessive traffic noise, and I was asked how long a rental I wanted. I explained that as I was 84 years old it should be my last move. I had found peace and quiet in this rental and a garden for my rescued dog and security for my last remaining years. The owners of the property own other houses in the road and imagine our surprise when we discovered a few months ago that all the properties were being advertised on the internet for sale.

The other tenants and myself have been refused another yearly contract and I asked my Landlord what my position was and he said “not to worry” as I can stay until the property is sold. But I do worry, as I have no security or peace of mind. How long have I got in the house, a month, 2, 3, 4 or 1 year? And then I will have nowhere to live – not every one wants a dog and he must have a garden. I now find the worry is affecting my health.

I came to Cyprus all those years ago as the climate was good for my arthritis – having lived over 30 years on my own I do not want to move again. Have I any rights. Any advice you can give me would be very much appreciated. Not all people from England are millionaires. Some of us have to exist on a sterling pension.

We have been told that the landlord wants the money from the sale of these houses for an investment in another country as the land is cheaper.


Yours Faithfully
Doris Mac (name changed)

A.: My dear madam I am sorry about your circumstances and I sympathize with your situation. If the house you live in was completed prior to December/1999, you stand to become a statutory tenant and as such you have rights of security of rent and tenure and getting you out becomes very difficult. If not, then you are a contractual tenant and you are at the mercy of the landlord when your contract expires. I thank you for your comments and should you need any further assistance I will be pleased to help.

A.P. Loizou
3/27842-td
27.8.08

Q.: To Mr Antonis Loizou
May I start by saying what a great column you write weekly and what an interesting read you give to many.
Ok I will start by saying that I am a very religious reader of the Cyprus weekly (mainly of your Q+A) and have never come across a question like mine before from other readers. I live in England I have subscribed and cant wait for my weekly read.
I am a Cypriot born in the UK but looking to move to Cyprus with my family within the next year or so permanently.
About 3 years ago a large piece of land in a village just outside of larnaka was being divided in to plots to be sold and I was told about it from a member of family so I thought I would purchase a plot as we are planning to move to Cyprus.
As we are UK residents we found it hard to take a loan in Cyprus so we agreed with the seller that we pay him over a period of time which we have done total purchase price was £43.500cy.
We are holding back about £5.000cy as we where told by many until title deeds are issued.
Firstly because of the way we purchased the plot by paying him slowly over about 2 years we where unable to notify the land registry of our purchase at the time. I don’t know if we can log our purchase with the land registry now we have paid for it and if so will they take into account the price we paid for it as prices have since risen and the plot is worth more the purchase price.
My question to you is, we have since found a house to buy and are thinking of selling the plot ?
How can we go about this, title deeds have not yet been issued and from what I can make of things in Cyprus this can take years, another is that the land registry does not have any records of our purchase.
Also what level of taxes will we be liable for as the plot may be worth in the region of about £110.000cy.
My I thank you in advance and when I move to Cyprus I will look you up and buy you a nice cold beer.
Regards Mr Photiou U.K.
A.: Thank you for your comments on the column. To withhold money until the title deed is issued it will depend on the sales contract terms (so be careful on this count).
You can lodge your sales contract with the Lands Office within 2 months after the date of signing. So unless the seller agrees to enter into a new contract, there is no way out.
On the question of the transfer fees you must provide satisfactory proof to persuade the Lands Office on the date of purchase (it is up to them). If not you will have to pay transfer fees on the value as at the date of transfer. If you bought the property with (say) another person, you can have the plot transfer in say, two shares, reducing thus the fee scale/transfer fees.
I suggest that you check at what stage the title deed issue is. What you hear about regarding the years of waiting refers mainly to buildings and not for building plots (much quicker for the latter).
Should you wish to sell, you have the following options:
(a) Enter into a cancellation agreement with the registered owner/seller, who will have to make a new contract with the new buyer. You must pay the capital gains tax (20% on the difference) and this will also require the cooperation of the seller who might not accept (this way you will not pay transfer fees) or
(b) Have your contract assigned to the new buyer. Not as good a solution, but it is done. This means that you will have first the plot transfer on your name (thus paying transfer fees) and then you to the new buyer.
The tax will depend on the gain. There is a 20% tax on the gain but with lots of exceptions and reductions reducing the effective tax to around 10% on the actual gain – If it is two of you the tax will be even less.
Regarding now the cold beer do you mind if it is whisky with lots of ice?!!

A.P. Loizou

Q.: I have a plot of land within a development area, but the plot has no public access, only a private right of way. I have made an application to build 4 houses within the plot (6000 sq.mts.) and my application was turned down, due to “unsatisfactory access”. I cannot understand it Mr Loizou. Any reason for it, since I know that one can carry out development based on a right of way.
Dimitri Moliva

A.: Provided you have registered on your title a right of way 12 feet wide and no longer (from a public road) of 100 mts., you can build 1-2 housing units. If more the planning authority will require a width of 20 feet. I feel that your architect ought to have examined this matter with the planning authority prior to the application. If it is possible, try to make an adjustment of boundaries with the plot in front, so that you can reach the road in the form from a land strip of a width not less than 20 feet (thus having a public road access). Usually the exchange formula is 2 to 1, i.e. you give two times the extent that you will get. It is a matter of reaching an agreement with an accommodating neighbor. Boundary adjustment procedure is simple and straightforward.
I hope I was of some help.

A.P. Loizou

Q.: I am a shop keeper on Possidonos Avenue and I must say that, on the whole, the upgrading of the road and the construction of the “shades” along the shops is a well done job. What I am asking you Mr Loizou is whether the closing to vehicular traffic of the avenue will harm or will it help the passing pedestrian traffic flow. I am in the jewellery business and I need to hear an independent and expert’s opinion on this, since I am called upon, by the opposing sides to take a stand, one way or another.
D.K. (name withheld)

A.: A never ending dispute in Cyprus. At the beginning we had the same problem with Ledra Street, then the Larnaca Phoenicoudhes promenade and now Possidonos Avenue. As you might know, we have as an firm our Kato Paphos office there and if I may say so, we are an interested party. On the whole I hold the view that the pedestrian conversion of Possidonos, will be a better solution. It gives the visitors a more relaxing atmosphere/environment, it gives the chance to children to run around and especially in your case (jewellery shop) a more relaxed time to gaze in your shop window. Since most visitors are tourists I feel that this is what your potential customers prefer. For us, locals, however with our own attitudes and always wishing to park our car within the shop (not even near it) it is another matter. The results of Ledra and Phoenicoudhes streets, as well that of St. Andreas street in Limassol, are positive indications of an improved trade. Having said this, there must be ample available parking near the avenue (which is has). We, as an Office, have suggested the pedestrian option during the afternoon hours (i.e. 16-6.0) with the remaining hours being free to traffic. This is a good compromise I feel.


A.P. Loizou

Q.: Dear Mr Loizou do you remember me? I am the one who suggested to you to provide your Q+A column in a hard copy, which could be sold at cost to all interested persons. You said you will look into it. Any news?
John Andrew

A.: I have passed on your idea to the editor and I am awaiting his reply. Your idea was to give it free as a Xmas present to the readers. I will have to remind the editor about it. In the meantime our articles and Q+A are so recorded in our website. Thank you for your interest and support. It is this the sort of thing that encourages me to carry on. It is not an easy job John, I can assure you.

A.P. Loizou
Q.: Do you think that with the Spanish property market in trouble and unit prices there for touristic/holiday home projects falling, the Cyprus market will also be affected in terms of British demand? With the situation Cyprus going through a reduced demand and with this Spanish state of affairs not helping, will Cyprus real estate market suffer even more?
Andy & Flo Richmond

A.: The answer is yes, but not to the extent that it might appear at the beginning. People first choose the country and then the property. But prices of course are compared and they have their own role to play. As I have reported in a last article, property prices in Cyprus are also falling (save Limassol), so the difference is not as much as it sounds, but I understand that Spanish prices are falling faster. So it will have a negative affect on Cyprus, but not to a great extent on this count alone. I am more worried about the exchange difference between the Euro and Sterling since this will help countries outside the Euro zone, such as Turkey, Morocco, Egypt etc.

A.P. Loizou

Q.: We are nearing concluding buying a beach home and the owner of the house explained to us that the land in front towards the beach, belongs to the Government and that we are free to use it. In fact he has grassed the area, planted it with nice plants and built a bar with a pergola. He told us that should we wish we could erect a pool in this same area. When we questioned him about any possible problems with the Government, his reply was “nobody bothers with this”.
Please what is the truth on this?
Garry Glitter (Mr & Mrs)

A.: I am rushing to send you an email so that you avoid a possible trap. The land belongs to the Government and the fact that the Government does not take action (in most occasions it does after sometime) it does not mean that you can have it as your own on an exclusive use basis. The Government beach land should be left open and as it is, without any “improvement” and it should be open to the public. Planting etc may seem harmless but this does not make it yours, others can walk over it, sunbathe etc. The bar and pergola is another thing however since it is completely illegal, both because it has been erected not on your own ground and because, most likely it falls within the seashore protection zone. Regarding now the pool – Don’t do it my friends. It is like having your neighbor building a garage in your garden!! I am aware that local authorities/ the Government are very slow to respond on illegalities, but it takes only one report to them to have your plans upset (the heartache that it will cause you apart). Buy the home based on the legal data and do not get carried away by false assurances.

A.P. Loizou

Q.: The local town planning zone refers to building two storey height. Yet our neighbor has erected a ground floor parking area (approximately 7 feet height) plus two floors above it. Is this a two storey building Mr Loizou? – I ask you.
David Millis

A.: This is another one of the odd things here. The covered parking, is not considered as a floor and provided it is 7 feet or so in height (no more), it does not count as such. So it appears that your neighbor is OK.

A.P. Loizou

Q.: We have a beach house and the seashore is rocky. So we have applied to build a small wooden pier (approximately 2 feet x 6 feet) in order to reach the sea in safety. Do we need a permit for this Mr Loizou? – We have asked around but the answers we got were so confusing that our friends told us “write to Mr Loizou you will give you a solid answer”.
L& A Grant

A.: First of all I must thank your friends for their compliment. If you dare apply to the local authority you stand either not to get an answer, or I can bet you it will be negative. If I was you, I would do it (provided it is built in such a way that it can be easily removed). Use wood blanks screwed in the rock with stainless steel screws. If someone reports you, you will have to remove it. Bear in mind that by producing a safe access, it will attract others and you might find that your private beach (if any) will be no more. I am afraid that what I am suggesting to you is quite illegal, but not a “crime” for which you cannot remedy immediately.

A.P. Loizou

Q.: We want to build a roof garden on our roof, which will accommodate a B.Q., kitchenette, pergola, a w.c./sanitary facilities and a Jacuzzi. Do we need a permit for it Mr Loizou?
(Please do not publish our name)

A.: You seem to have in mind a rather extensive extension. I do suggest that your architect gets information from the local town planning office as various authorities have a different stand. I will say the pergola and Jacuzzi will be OK, but the other structures, which refer to covered structures (kitchen/w.c. etc) is not so simple. You have to check density availability, the floor height restrictions, as well as the local authority’s stand on this type of extensions (bear also in mind whether your property has a title or not).

A.P. Loizou

Q.: We are having our house built and we are at odds with our architect and because of this we need your urgent advice Mr Loizou. Our home will have a basement garage/sauna/shower, two floors of the house and a roof garden. We object to having a lift, but our architect says it is a must. What do you think, is there a law that we must have this facility?
Mary & Andrew Winters

A.: There is no law my friends, other than the law of nature/age. You do appreciate that what you have is a 4 level house and it will depend on your age and stamina. Having to reach from the basement to the roof garden with a case full of beers it can be straining. If there is room in your house, do it and provide a lift. If it is a matter of money, erect the lift shaft and place the lift later. In addition to your own personal convenience, when you decide to sell your house, you will get a better price. Standards are changing and as air condition was a luxury a few years ago and it is now a must, so I will expect in future the lifts will be a must – Budget for a cost of around £12.000 (with the lift).
A.P. Loizou
Q.: Is there a place where we can live amongst locals without being overruned by Brits and other foreign people? We have just moved from Portugal, but having moved to Paphos, we thought we have relocated in a new “little England”. We are English but this is not a place of us. We wish to live amongst the locals, learn the culture and make new local friends.
Clark & Cate

A.: Your place to be is Nicosia. I always say that the capital is the best choice for many reasons and for you, it is another. As in all locations, which are affected by tourism, Nicosia with practically no tourists at all, has abundance of local cultural activities and constant events. Visit the place a few times or rent a flat for a year and decide accordingly.
Alternatively choose Limassol (as a second choice), but within the residential (locals) areas, not in the tourist areas
A.P. Loizou

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