Land registry offices in go-slow mode

Fresh problems for property market as government shows no intention of addressing registrars’ concerns

The conflict between the government and private land registry officers has evolved into another major obstacle to the rapid recovery of the local property market, due to the officers’ decision to abstain from part of their duties since February 26.

In the last few weeks the offices (“ypothikofylakia”) have only been accepting registrations, but there have been no issuing of certificates nor corrections to land registry documents. Already, the first effects have become apparent in the market as interested buyers are unable to complete such transactions; the same applies to transactions made via auctions.

Ioanna Tzinieri, a board member of the Greek Land Registrars Association, explains that it is only emergency business – such as urgent approvals for the protection of main residences from lenders – is being conducted. The aim is to make both the people and the state understand just how significant the work done at land registry offices is terms of citizens’ everyday lives and the property market, as well as to force the state to reassess their planned abolition according to the new law on the cadaster.

Already 17 offices have turned from private to public overnight last September, and now there are unprecedented problems such as paper shortages and major delays in the processing on transactions, due to the lack of resources and the experience and skills shortages among the new employees who have staffed them.

Once all private offices come under the state’s control, private registrars warn, there will be chaos in the real estate market, particularly in terms of insecurity in transactions. They even complain that the state aims to fund the creation of a single cadaster entity through revenues from the land registry offices.

The unhindered operation of the land registry offices is necessary for any business that is related to property, such as the issue of building permits or mortgage loans, rentals, confiscations, power supply installation, tax debt settlement etc.

For now the registrars have resorted to justice for the annulment of the law on the cadaster, and their case will be heard in May. They are also warning they could escalate their action, and while there appears to be no intention on the government’s part to discuss the issue, their abstention will continue indefinitely.