North Cyprus-TRNC Buyers Guide to Title Deeds

Title to Immovable Property in Northern Cyprus – The TRNC

Different types of title

The issue of Title to immovable property in Northern Cyprus is a complex issue and arises due to the nature of the political situation in North Cyprus. As a consequence of troubles between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots which occurred mainly in the 1960’s and resulted in the Turkish military intervention of 1974, property on both sides of the island was left or abandoned by its original owners.

In the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), this abandoned property was administered by the government in two main ways;

‘Esdeger’ or ‘Exchange’ Title

Turkish Cypriots who had left land in the south were given points calculated on the value of the land which they had left behind. The TRNC Government established a matrix whereby the allocated points were used by the Turkish Cypriot to acquire freehold title to previously owned Greek Cypriot property which should, theoretically, be the equivalent value of land left behind in the south.

Immovable property to which title was acquired in this way by a Turkish Cypriot is known as ‘Exchange title land'.

'TMD' Title

The TRNC government also issued ‘points’ to other people, not for property which was left behind in the south, but as a gift, usually in reward for military services. These points were then used to acquire freehold title to a piece of immovable property in Northern Cyprus.

Immovable property to which title was acquired in this way is known as 'gift land or TMD'.

'Turkish / Foreign Pre 74' Title

Property which was not owned and abandoned by a Greek Cypriot during this period and which was owned immediately prior to the military intervention in 1974 by a Turkish Cypriot or a foreign national is known as 'Turkish Title or Pre 1974 title or Foreign Title'.