Moving to north cyprus

[ejohnsonim]

Apologies if covered elsewhere or not the right forum but thinking about moving from the UK to North Cyprus and just looking to understand the real world pros and cons and things to bare in mind. Also to understand the preferred places to live.

On the face of it climate, price of property and cost of living look appealing.

[13roman58]

Rent first then decide.

[cyprus2016]

Probably best to have a good read through of all the information available from the British Residents Society!

https://brstrnc.com/index.asp

[Chriswright03]

There is a great deal to read on here and as posted already in the BRS site as well as on Facebook groups based here.

One thing that stands out is the advice already given rent before you buy. We did and decided we loved it here so bought and have not regretted a day in the last two and a half years. There is like any other place good and bad but for us personally the good far outweighs the bad of living in the UK. Not just the climate but the general lifestyle here where we find it suits us.

Last year there was a huge change in that everyone had to apply for residency, over 65's were unofficially exempt before due to a Gentleman's agreement. Due to that quite a lot of people who had been here for many years got the hump and either left or stated their intention to. I mention that because again like many other places there are a lot of moaners who will never be satisfied with their lot. Other man's grass and all that.

In truth only you can decide of course but a lot will depend on stuff like if you need/want to work here, what your financial situation is and do you or family intend to travel between the UK and here or not.

So really you can find out a lot if you are happy to spend a bit of time digging about. If you have anything that you struggle to find an answer for by looking about then come back and ask a direct question or even just type it into the 'search function' at the top of the page and I am sure you will be assisted if possible.

For my part it is a fantastic place with a wonderful lifestyle, current climate excepted of course. Welcome to the forum and I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

[Charlieboy]

Rents are very cheap so rent in the first instance give yourself time to adjust and have a good look around.

[waz-24-7]

Yes rent first OR take a block booking in a reasonable hotel if you wish to move more quickly.
Certainly the area around Girne is very popular with the ex pat community.
Distinct East and West areas of the town are both popular divided by the town itself and the mountain barrier.

When Buying. Kocan (title deeds ) is king. Read up on title deed issues.
Beware of advocate promises as there is no duty of care and it is NOT based on UK law.
Estate agents work closely with advocates and therefore do your own research. Ask questions, many questions.
who own the property? builder? ex pat?
You can still buy using a notary if the seller is local and Cypriot.
Make a will and register it. Use a notary for this.
The exchange rates now is very good but high value items trade in £ or Euros.
Some real bargains and beautiful villas are readily available.
Mountains for view and tranquility but away from amenities.
Coastal plateau for proximity to sea, amenities and bustle.
In-between is well in-between
swimming pool or not? about £80 month maintenance OR do it yourself.
damp in buildings is an issue due to building methods.


Climate can be very pleasant indeed April/May and September/October is best.
Summers can be very hot. Winter cold and damp but still pleasant.
Cars are very expensive.
Fuel is cheap.
Cost of living is reasonable. Tax regimes are very favourable.
The mountains around Girne are an immense playground for walking, off road adventure, etc.
Water sports opportunities abound but you must look for them.
Restaurants and hotels are abundant and generally very good.

Getting to Cyprus will be via UK/ Ercan/Turkey. Larnaca or Paphos may remain but now less attractive.
Stay active , enjoy the climate and all Cyprus has to offer.

[Chriswright03]

Rents are very cheap so rent in the first instance give yourself time to adjust and have a good look around.

Not strictly true. Some maybe but many are not. Getting the right price for the right property with the right terms is a challenge and should not be underestimated.

[forestpixie]

It depends if you need to work, getting a job here is tricky at the best of times and with the current economic climate jobs are few and far between.

[Mr Chinnery]

Ejohnsonim, you don’t say which age bracket you are in, whether you have children or intend living on pensions.
If you can ‘ manage’ now you are unlikely to to be able to manage in ten to twenty years as pensions from the U.K. (if that’s where you are from) only increase by small percentages every year where as inflation here is high, allow ten to twenty per cent per year.
If you have a large amount of savings fine, if not you will struggle.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

As the above had said, research, research, research and ensure you have a fair amount of fat in your budget.
I believe many who moved here years ago find their standard of living is not what it was ten years ago or even five.

[Asia111]

If you need to work in Cyprus, making a decent living can be tough. I don’t know of any expats who have found it easy. We know of self employed and employed who found it harder and harder year on year and returned to UK.
If you work as an employee, the min wage is approx £20 per day and days can be long. There is no min hourly rate. Employment rights are practically non existant.

[forestpixie]

If you need to work in Cyprus, making a decent living can be tough. I don’t know of any expats who have found it easy. We know of self employed and employed who found it harder and harder year on year and returned to UK.
If you work as an employee, the min wage is approx £20 per day and days can be long. There is no min hourly rate. Employment rights are practically non existant.

Agreed, it's taken me many jobs to find one with a good employer and I'm not expected to work longer for nothing!

[benjaminbutton]

ejohnsonim, I think you will find the information you receive on this and other Forums will be dependent on the information you offer yourself. No need for endless information on schools or the problem of obtaining suitable employment if all you are looking for is a pleasant quiet retirement.

[Saintsfan]

Have you visited North Cyprus at all or just read up on it and decided you would like to move there? You need to give a bit more information before you get the answers you are looking for, you have been asked questions but so far haven’t given any answers.

[ejohnsonim]

Thanks so much to all replying. I am so grateful. I am 51 have reasonable savings and and wouldn't be looking to work. Would be moving with partner and we may need English schools in the future. Looking for a quiet but not remote location and reasonable priced large property with views and maybe a few local shops/cafes.

[benjaminbutton]

Then hit the web sites for the local estate agents, go on to Google Maps and you'll be able to ascertain the location. Bear in mind that what appears to be an attractive view, can, by next year, have a 14 floor block of flats immediately in front of you. That's why you should rent for at least six months, otherwise you could make a nasty mistake. There is no Duty of Care here, so you have to dig out all the information yourself.

[Mr Chinnery]

If you need schools check you can afford they are not cheap. Also savings won’t last long if you don’t have pension ie company pension of a good standard.
If you are moving because it’s cheaper than uk then you need to think again.
£2000 per month you will get by, but in ten years double it.

[Reyntj]

Some of the the private schools are not expensive at all . We paid only c £1400 for the year at near East primary school including transport and uniform. The lessons are in both English and Turkish . Its for bilingual children. Iast time I looked the English school in kyrenia is about £6-7000 per year. It's still cheaper than private schools in The UK.

Near East is a n yeniboazici near Famagusta you will probably not move here as most expats live on the kyrenia coast.

[Mr Chinnery]

Yes but 6-7k per year is a lot if you are relying on savings with no income. Even if you could live on £1000 per month - 12k per year plus £6k schooling 18k out of savings per year £54k in 3 years. If you came with 60k not a lot left. I have known youngish (50s) people to come with £ 50k thinking they would live like kings. 3 years later back to blighty nothing left.

[Reyntj]

I don't think there is anywhere on the planet that £50k in savings would see you through more than a few years...

[ejohnsonim]

I don't think there is anywhere on the planet that £50k in savings would see you through more than a few years...

Agreed. I'm in the fortunate position that's savings are in form of properties so should generate sufficient rental income (I hope!) given the levels you have kindly provided. Once again thanks to all giving their time to help me its truly appreciated.

[ejohnsonim]

The areas that from an absolute outsiders perspective look appealing are

Bellepas (pricey but seems nice and near school)
Edremit (?)
Alsancak (mid priced but nice?)
Ozankoy (as above?)
Karsiyaka (seems reasonably priced)
Lapta
Essentepe (seems reasonably priced)

Famagusta seemed a little far away but not ruled out as i just have no knowledge of the amenities there at all

That said i don't know if there are better/worse areas in each of these locations or if there are other areas worth considering. Apologies for being so unknowledgeable and i hope not to irritate anyone with these questions).

I suppose the key questions are where people would buy if they had up to £300k in the budget to get a 3/4 bed villa with a pool and also if people feel the market may soften as people look to move on due to brexit/coivid/other concerns.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Looking for a quiet but not remote location and reasonable priced large property with views and maybe a few local shops/cafes.

Have you been to North Cyprus much?
We came twice a year for 5-6 years before moving and stayed in various locations on holidays and even then we changed our mind on where we wanted to settle once we moved here.
When are you thinking of moving? Are you expecting a decent private pension at 55?
If you are relying on converting your money into TL and living off the high interest rates that is a high risk strategy.
In under 5 years the TL rate changed from under 4 to over 11 and even now it is not much under 10 so bear in mind the inflation rate and the fact that the sterling value of your pot will in all likelihood diminish. The more you dig into your lump sum the less interest you earn. Also interest rates have been very volatile.
I wouldn't talk anyone out of moving here, it's a great place to live, but you need to do a hell of a lot of research and do your sums correctly.
I think those that moved out here 10+ years ago, sold up and bought have struggled more than those who moved here more recently.
Also they are all in so to speak so moving back to the UK is problematic for them.

[PoshinDevon]

Yes rent first OR take a block booking in a reasonable hotel if you wish to move more quickly.
Certainly the area around Girne is very popular with the ex pat community.
Distinct East and West areas of the town are both popular divided by the town itself and the mountain barrier.

When Buying. Kocan (title deeds ) is king. Read up on title deed issues.
Beware of advocate promises as there is no duty of care and it is NOT based on UK law.
Estate agents work closely with advocates and therefore do your own research. Ask questions, many questions.
who own the property? builder? ex pat?
You can still buy using a notary if the seller is local and Cypriot.
Make a will and register it. Use a notary for this.
The exchange rates now is very good but high value items trade in £ or Euros.
Some real bargains and beautiful villas are readily available.
Mountains for view and tranquility but away from amenities.
Coastal plateau for proximity to sea, amenities and bustle.
In-between is well in-between
swimming pool or not? about £80 month maintenance OR do it yourself.
damp in buildings is an issue due to building methods.


Climate can be very pleasant indeed April/May and September/October is best.
Summers can be very hot. Winter cold and damp but still pleasant.
Cars are very expensive.
Fuel is cheap.
Cost of living is reasonable. Tax regimes are very favourable.
The mountains around Girne are an immense playground for walking, off road adventure, etc.
Water sports opportunities abound but you must look for them.
Restaurants and hotels are abundant and generally very good.

Getting to Cyprus will be via UK/ Ercan/Turkey. Larnaca or Paphos may remain but now less attractive.
Stay active , enjoy the climate and all Cyprus has to offer.

Agree with all the above.

If you decide to buy then do thoroughly investigate the Kocan (Title Deeds) and whether they are easily transferable. There is a fee to transfer. In order to take control of the title deeds you will need Permission to Purchase (PTP). Basically a background/criminal record check. This can take some time to complete. However; many people purchase before PTP is completed. This is normal and unless you have a dodgy background many will buy and start the PTP process at the same time. More often than not you will have moved in for a few months before your PTP is authorised. There are some restrictions on buying a property so ensure you understand these as PTP may not be granted in a few cases.

Read everything thoroughly and importantly understand and ask questions. There is lots of advice available but remember it’s advice only. You must make the decision. There are always horror stories about purchases going wrong but providing you carry out due diligence you should be fine.

Where to live..... very much depends on what you want. We bought our small place 10 years ago, but are “swallows” so on island for approx 8 months of the year. We have however lived and worked on the island many times so understand the way of life, culture, places to go, the good and the bad.... no regrets. There will always be some downsides, some may moan but despite these we still love the place. If you make the effort there are still many places that are unspoilt and beautiful.

Good luck.

[Dalartokat]

More general advice..... https://northcyprusinternational.com/no ... ce-permit/

[Reyntj]

Just putting it out there but Forbes have said iskele is the number one place on the planet to buy a beachfront condo.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenpe ... 6d92313b76

There are 3 to 4 bed villas with pool for around £150 k. The £300 k mentioned above is really the start of the upper end of the market in my opinion. When I came to first live here in kyrenia whenever I met a local they asked if I lived there in bellapais. That area has always had a cache and is considered by the locals as the best address and ciklos just below. As they say location location location...

I am biased though and live in iskele . From a supply and demand perspective it's mostly Russians buying in North Cyprus now and they are buying mostly in iskele because they like beaches amongst other amenities.

[ejohnsonim]

Looking for a quiet but not remote location and reasonable priced large property with views and maybe a few local shops/cafes.

Have you been to North Cyprus much?
We came twice a year for 5-6 years before moving and stayed in various locations on holidays and even then we changed our mind on where we wanted to settle once we moved here.
When are you thinking of moving? Are you expecting a decent private pension at 55?
If you are relying on converting your money into TL and living off the high interest rates that is a high risk strategy.
In under 5 years the TL rate changed from under 4 to over 11 and even now it is not much under 10 so bear in mind the inflation rate and the fact that the sterling value of your pot will in all likelihood diminish. The more you dig into your lump sum the less interest you earn. Also interest rates have been very volatile.
I wouldn't talk anyone out of moving here, it's a great place to live, but you need to do a hell of a lot of research and do your sums correctly.
I think those that moved out here 10+ years ago, sold up and bought have struggled more than those who moved here more recently.
Also they are all in so to speak so moving back to the UK is problematic for them.

No. Just to the south. In truth the reasonable property prices and decent year round climate were the initial appeal which caused me to do more research. So far so good on that front as generally people are positive (accepting the normal level of frustrations living anywhere ). Initially I'd like to use it for 3-4 months a year and then move out in about 4 or 5 years full time. Thankfully not relying on Turkish interest to live on as its an illusion that gets eaten up by inflation ( generally the real rate of interest ( headline savings rate less inflation) is not that different country to country) so that's not the strategy. Where did you consider/ settle in the end?

[ejohnsonim]

Just putting it out there but Forbes have said iskele is the number one place on the planet to buy a beachfront condo.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenpe ... 6d92313b76

There are 3 to 4 bed villas with pool for around £150 k. The £300 k mentioned above is really the start of the upper end of the market in my opinion. When I came to first live here in kyrenia whenever I met a local they asked if I lived there in bellapais. That area has always had a cache and is considered by the locals as the best address and ciklos just below. As they say location location location...

I am biased though and live in iskele . From a supply and demand perspective it's mostly Russians buying in North Cyprus now and they are buying mostly in iskele because they like beaches amongst other amenities.

Tremendously helpful on price brackets/ areas thanks. I will add Iskele to my search.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Where did you consider/ settle in the end?

We are in Alsancak. Originally we were committed to living in Ozankoy or Catalkoy areas. For those in the Girne area you either favour the west side or east side of Girne both have their supporters.

[PoshinDevon]

Where did you consider/ settle in the end?

We are in Alsancak. Originally we were committed to living in Ozankoy or Catalkoy areas. For those in the Girne area you either favour the west side or east side of Girne both have their supporters.

Agree. For the Girne area either west or east both have their supporters. One thing to consider is that travelling into Girne if living out of town can sometimes take a long time. We enjoy the weekly Girne market and also time down the old harbour but the traffic can be a pain at times. We have noticed the increased traffic especially over the last 5 years. There will always be times when you will very likely need to travel into town to visit government buildings, police offices etc. Especially if you are applying for residency, driving licences or perhaps registering a will with the court. We live up in the hills above Catalkoy village which is approx 5 miles from town. Plenty of shops, restaurants and beaches close by, plus easy access out west and also over the mountains to Lefkosa, Ercan airport and Gazimagusa. We also like the area around Esentepe which is quieter and 10 years ago felt a little isolated. However; lots more facilities now.

Enjoy your searching.

[ejohnsonim]

Many thanks this really helpful insight on areas. Covid apart is it fairly straightforward to go to the south / do people feel the need to much?

[PoshinDevon]

Many thanks this really helpful insight on areas. Covid apart is it fairly straightforward to go to the south / do people feel the need to much?

Having lived and worked in the south of the island since the early 70s we love the whole island. So for us we enjoy exploring both the north and south. We often travelled to the south to revisit old haunts and stay a night or two. We also occasionally did a little shopping in the south but not so much in recent years. Pre Brexit crossing was relatively straightforward. Hopefully this will continue, however there is always the chance that the authorities in the south may look to restrict or shall I say make things “difficult”. We used to travel via Ercan or a south airport depending on what was convenient at the time. Entry via Larnaca/Paphos airports and crossing to the north might not be possible, easy or as straightforward. Flying into Ercan (Not recognised in the south as a legal point of entry to Cyprus) in the TRNC and crossing to the south might be problematic. No one knows as yet. If it does become more difficult, whilst disappointing will not be a game changer for us. We will adapt our travel and enjoy all the north had to offer.

[Walesforever]

We have always favoured Catalkoy. Lots of restaurants/bars/supermarkets/shops,on the main bus route to Girne and nice sea breeze. The only trouble being since we bought 12 years ago the traffic has got worse and worse and what used to be a ten min car journey to Girne can now take 30 mins on a bad day.

[Walesforever]

Think Posh sums it up quite well. I think we have gone to the South about 10 times ( excluding airports) since we have been coming to the North.
Never really found the South side as friendly and its definitely much more expensive!!!

[Charlieboy]

I seem to remember the same post a while back..last year or the one before

[ejohnsonim]

I seem to remember the same post a while back..last year or the one before

Hi. I did try to search the forum for similar thread but didn't manage to find anything -likely my fault - if anyone can direct me there I'd appreciate it and likely save the usual dumb questions on my part! I am truly grateful to everyone for taking the time to post.

I also wondered if anyone had experience of renovating properties. Specifically i wondered about planning type restrictions around adding a pool / opening up outside walls to add patio doors / taking down internal walls. Also addition of things like wooden structures in the garden - covered gym /seating areas etc.

I am getting the sense perimeter walls can't be more than 1.2 m and also wondered if there were restrictions on height of landscaping, hedges trees etc if one wants to add a little privacy.


I don't really want a project but for the right thing ive not ruled it out yet. Also any feel for quality/availability and cost of local trades would be helpful. Many thanks again.

[PoshinDevon]

Don’t worry if you cannot quickly find answers by doing a search.

If you have questions just ask, the forum is very helpful and you will get plenty of feedback. Of course you can always send a private message if you want to follow up on a particular reply.

Good luck.

[ejohnsonim]

Thanks. I do have another couple of questions.

Did folks look at other destinations before choosing north cyprus. Had though about canaries but i don't really see much upside other than the weather.

Also any views on property market also welcome. Are prices rising /falling/ taking a long time to sell and wondered if there was any rule of thumb when offering against published prices. Ie 10%/20% below. There seems huge variations in prices with little between some properties and i wondered if the price is set at what people want rather than independently valued like here in Scotland ?

[Walesforever]

There will always be a ceiling price on property in TRNC due to its non recognition and isolation ( but you can get more for your buck in most comparisons).
One area that a hell of a lot of people seem to overlook is the weather. It can get up to 45 degrees in the summer ( dangerously hot) but also it can be bloody freezing in the winter months with a fair bit of rain. This doesn’t sound much of a problem but bear in mind most properties DO NOT have central heating (including bars,restaurants etc). So most relay on open fires,log burners or simple gas heaters. Very primitive compared to most houses back in the UK. So if you are thinking about spending many winters out there then be prepared. So many people seem to think the sun shines 365 days a year. Trust me it can be bloody cold at times!!
The other problem for a huge percentage of properties is damp. There are almost no damp proofing done to any properties so expect to see this when your looking.It normally comes in form of rising damp on internal and external walls.Almost impossible to get rid off. Most owners go through the yearly hacking off of walls and re rendering then painting until it reappears then do it all again.
We went through the slog of injecting our entire villa internal and external ( hard bloody work!!) it’s solved about 90% of our damp problems.
These are two areas that are could have a big impact on your decision.

[Reyntj]

One thing you should know about the properties for sale is the agents charge 5% plus vat to sell. So what happens is this . Vendor"you want how much commission". Agent " yes but we are going to do xy and z and we have a customer who will pay a zillion£. Vendor " wow that's great a zillion pound let's get going".

So the market is full of overpriced property with very few sales. Everybody who is in the process is trapped in a pergatory stalemate. The agents want 5 +vat because they sell very few properties. The sellers want a high price because the agents told them so and they have to pay their commission. The buyers are scratching their head why their 10% below asking price cash offer has been declined when the property has been on the market for 2 years.

That's how it is really....

[benjaminbutton]

A form of damp proofing is beginning to be built in more expensive new build. Not what we would call damp proofing but far, far more improved than property build 15+ years ago. I've watched it in at least 10/12 houses constructed in our area last year.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

The agents want 5 +vat because they sell very few properties.

I don't think any business in TRNC gets the concept of supply and demand, turnover/volume and cash flow.

[maz-h]

I don’t know if this has been covered, but medical expenses are a major consideration
We were in our early fifties when we moved here, both fit and well. Within five years we had both had completely unexpected major medical emergencies, requiring intensive care treatment
The medical care was good, but it made a HUGE dent in our savings
Hospitals won’t let you out until the bill has been paid! So apart from income you will need a chunk of capital to cover any eventuality

[ejohnsonim]

Thanks all. These are really helpful insights. Noted on prices - that makes sense from what I've seen and lol on concept of supply and demand in NC. Damp/ heating situation added to factors when looking!

On the weather front thanks for input. It is definitely a thought. Do others have thoughts on general climate for year round living? ( Just had 6 or so weeks between -3 and 3 degrees in Edinburgh!)

[ejohnsonim]

And noted on medical bills. Is there a decent insurance available if you go that route a and any ballpark figures for annual cost would be very helpful. Thanks again.

[Laura B]

We pay approx 15,000TL a year for 2 of us for full cover medical insurance with Turkiye sigorta. However we were both in our 50s when we took it out and have now been with them nearly 20 years. Depending on age, medical insurance can be hard or impossible to get. If it can be started early enough then the company will keep you on for your lifetime.

[ejohnsonim]

We pay approx 15,000TL a year for 2 of us for full cover medical insurance with Turkiye sigorta. However we were both in our 50s when we took it out and have now been with them nearly 20 years. Depending on age, medical insurance can be hard or impossible to get. If it can be started early enough then the company will keep you on for your lifetime.

Very helpful. Thanks so much.

[Dalartokat]

Thanks all. These are really helpful insights. Noted on prices - that makes sense from what I've seen and lol on concept of supply and demand in NC. Damp/ heating situation added to factors when looking!

On the weather front thanks for input. It is definitely a thought. Do others have thoughts on general climate for year round living? ( Just had 6 or so weeks between -3 and 3 degrees in Edinburgh!)

Invest in a humidity meter don’t cost a lot...and a damp meter, that’s costs a lot more, but handy to have.

[wanderer]

Mountains are nice in summer a bit cooler
Dam cold in winter
Also be aware of the much shorter days in winter If you choose to live in a valley you may only get a couple of hours sunlight in winter

[Walesforever]

You mention you’ve just had a week of -3 degrees which is quite normal this time of year in the UK...the big difference in the UK compared to TRNC is you can usually flick a switch and heat up the entire house in a matter of minutes. Whereas even if it’s a decent winters day in Cyprus ( maybe 15 degrees) by 4pm its dark and cold with very limited ways of heating up your property.

The forms of heating are extremely primitive......mostly open fires,log burners or gas heaters.each of these can only warm up one room at a time.So if your like me who loves a nice warm home then it can be a struggle.
I know one person who assumed you could sun bath all year round!!! When they sampled Cyprus life during winter they were stunned!!