The Orams Case and Property in North Cyprus

Summary: The Orams win to secure their property in North Cyprus causes new interest and buying activity in Northern Cyprus

Since Linda and David Orams began their epic battle to secure their rights to their property in North Cyprus (pictured) against claims levelled against them in a court of law in the Republic of (South) Cyprus by the descendants of the former Greek Cypriot owner of the land on which their new home was constructed, the property market in Northern Cyprus has been deeply restricted.

Many who were dreaming of a new life in the stunning Mediterranean location that is Northern Cyprus put their plans to buy property there on hold until the outcome of the legal battle was known.  Last week when the Orams, represented by Cherie Blair, finally won the battle at the High Court in London to keep their property in Northern Cyprus safe, the level of direct enquiries and sales of property in TRNC surged immediately. 

Speaking to one leading property developer in Northern Cyprus today, the ShelterOffshore team learned that the day following the Orams case outcome saw the developer’s sales team sell three homes over the phone to one hungry buyer who stated that quite simply he was buying now before the developer had a chance to put his prices up!

Over the weekend North Cyprus’s leading weekly English language newspaper ‘Cyprus Today’ reported extensively on the Orams case and property in North Cyprus in general - it had quotes from the likes of Ian Smith Estate Agency claiming that those reticent buyers they had on their books had been only too delighted to get a phone call informing them of the state of play with the Orams case and many had committed to viewing trips or requested immediate information about homes for sale within their price range as a result of the positive outcome.

While the Greek Cypriot descendants of the former owners of the land on which the Orams property in Northern Cyprus was constructed have the right to appeal against the High Court Judge’s decisive findings and their lawyers will likely take that opportunity in a bid to continue a certain amount of restriction of the property market in TRNC - expert legal opinion is conclusive, they will not win.

While we are not legal experts we understand that the ruling was based on the fact that the initial claim was made against the Orams and their home in North Cyprus via the courts in the Republic of (South) Cyprus and according to Protocol 10 attached to the Accession Treaty for Cyprus such a court has no jurisdiction in the North.

The relevant part of Protocol 10 reads as follows (the significant portion is in bold): -

“THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES, REAFFIRMING their commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and their strong support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to that end, CONSIDERING that such a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem has not yet been reached, CONSIDERING that it is, therefore, necessary to provide for the suspension of the application of the acquis in those areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control,
CONSIDERING that, in the event of a solution to the Cyprus problem this suspension shall be lifted…”

So, with a huge hurdle to the successful development of the most exciting emerging market in Europe having been overcome we will watch with great excitement the positive growth of North Cyprus’s property market where one can still buy apartments and villas overlooking untouched sandy beaches or within a short walk from a fantastic new championship golf course from GBP 65,000 for example – see the property finder service from About North Cyprus.com for the best properties at the best prices. 

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