Cyprus Court of Appeal rules on property title transfer disputes

The Cyprus Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed an appeal by a land development company challenging a decision by the Paphos Land Registry. The case concerned a Paphos apartment purchased in 1984, for which the buyer had fulfilled all contractual payment obligations and sought a title deed transfer. The developer had blocked the transfer, claiming the buyer owed over €87,000 for common expenses, taxes, and fees. The court ruled that neither the sale contract nor relevant legislation makes title transfer conditional upon such payments. The judges emphasized that alleged debts must be pursued through separate civil litigation rather than used to obstruct property transfers. Furthermore, the court noted that on April 4, 2025, the Paphos District Court had already dismissed the company’s claims for these debts, finding no contractual basis for linking them to the property transfer. The ruling reinforces the principle that title deed issuance is a distinct legal process.