The Land Registry or Cadester (Κτηματολόγιο) of Greece has started its exclusive operation in many areas of the country, and the process is already underway in several towns and villages.

In those areas where the old cadaster, (υποθηκοφυλάκειο), is still in operation, the land registry process has started collecting property filings and all real estate owners are called to file copies of their various titles, deeds, contracts, topographic plans / survey maps and registration of deeds certificates. They need to do this so that their ownership rights on real estate property is verified and certified in a digitalised system, with much more accuracy on boundary delineation, and owners’ names registration.

Anyone, therefore, who owns any type of property right in Greece must find out whether the area where the property is located has already a land registry (κτηματολόγιο) office in operation, or whether the registry process has just started. In the case that it has, the owners must file copies of their titles and survey maps, to prove their ownership rights. The government has granted an extension on the time limits required to file copies of deeds and certificates.

Each owner who resides outside of Greece must contact friends, relatives, lawyers etc. in Greece to ask for the specific due date on the specific town or village of Greece. For example, for Lefkada, Nafpaktos, Messologi and Agrinio, the final day for foreign residents is the 10 June. For the Korinthos and Loutraki areas, as well as Pieria, Evrytania, Fthiotida, Arcadia, Argolida and Lasithi, the time limit is until 18 June.

READ MORE: Land registry extension deadline for Greeks living abroad

For the islands of Rhodes, Kalymnos, Kos and Karpathos, the due date is on 20 May 2019. For the Laconia area, the date is the 8 July. There are more areas of Greece with various due dates and each property owner must make a search by calling Greece or visiting www.ktimatologio.gr

For areas including Zakynthos, Kephalonia, Ithaca, Western Attica, Lemnos and Lesvos, the process has not yet started.

At the Municipality of Athens, the filings had been done years ago and on Monday, 22 April, the initial listing of verified property rights will be published. The land registry services have processed the ownership rights declared and have come up with the initial outcome (first phase) of who has what right and where. Each property owner in Athens must check after 22 April 2019 whether their rights have been confirmed and whether their properties have been registered properly and correctly. In some cases, there will be mistakes and property owners must spot them and file objections to correct them.

*Attorney at the Supreme Court of Greece, LL.M. (www.greekadvocate.eu/ e-mail: bm-bioxoi@otenet.gr