Property
With property, the problem nobody spotted in time is the expensive one. We check, draft and follow every stage of the transaction, so that you know what you are signing.
The title check is done before any deposit changes hands, not after. We trace the chain of ownership at the land registry and at the cadastre. Greece is still moving from the old deeds-based land registry to the national cadastre, so which office holds the record depends on the area. We identify charges, prenotations, competing claims and unauthorised building work, and give you a clear picture of what you are actually buying. We then work with the notary and the surveyor so that the transfer goes through without surprises, and where there is bank lending or a scheme such as ‘My Home II’, we follow the financing side as well.
Beyond sales and purchases, we deal with everything that comes with owning property in Greece: leases and disputes with tenants, registering or removing a prenotation of mortgage, corrections at the cadastre, and questions about service charges. For owners living abroad, all of this can be done under a power of attorney, without your having to travel.
Matters we typically handle
Title checks
A full search at the land registry and the cadastre for charges, competing claims and gaps in the chain of ownership, always before you commit yourself through a deposit or a preliminary agreement.
Sales and purchases
Negotiating the terms, reviewing the draft deed and attending the signing, working alongside the notary and the surveyor, through to registration of the transfer.
Purchase with a mortgage, including ‘My Home II’
‘My Home II’ is the state-supported low-interest mortgage scheme for buying a first home. We align the legal check with what the bank and the scheme require, so that approval and drawdown are not derailed by a loose end found at the last minute.
Prenotation of mortgage: registration, release, deletion
A prenotation is the charge a Greek bank registers over a property, by court order, to secure a loan. It does the work that a mortgage charge does elsewhere. We register it and, once the loan is repaid, obtain its release and deletion so that the property is clear on the register.
Leases
Drafting and reviewing residential and commercial leases, and handling disputes, from arrears of rent through to a court order for possession.
Cadastre declarations and corrections
Declarations of ownership, and the correction of inaccurate first entries. The first entry is the record the cadastre creates for a property when an area is surveyed, and it becomes final once the statutory period has passed. Where that deadline is approaching, we bring court proceedings to protect your right in time.
Service charge disputes
Recovering unpaid service charges and resolving disputes between co-owners under the deed of regulations that governs the block.
Frequently asked questions
When should the title check be done?
Before any deposit is paid or preliminary agreement signed. Whatever comes to light after signing is difficult to put right, and usually expensive.
What is checked besides the titles?
Charges and prenotations, third-party claims, unauthorised building work, outstanding cadastre matters, and debts that follow the property itself rather than the seller. The picture has to be complete before you commit.
Can I buy or sell while living abroad?
Yes, under a power of attorney signed at your nearest Greek consulate. The check, the deed and the registration are handled by us here.
The answers above are general information and do not constitute legal advice on any specific matter.