If there is a building on the plot you are buying, ask for the building permit in order to make sure that the structure is not illegal, as well as to ascertain the terms and conditions of the building.Please note that most of the above problems do not exist in case you buy a building site (as opposed to a plot of land/field). Even if the title deed registers the property as a building site, however, it is recommended that you go through the motions of checking the various prerequisites for development.
Prices are usually quoted as pounds per sq. metre. It is important, however, to ascertain the square metres of which area you are paying for. Certain developers include part of the common areas (staircases, lifts etc) while others include the verandahs and so on. If therefore, you are shopping around for the right price, make sure that you are comparing the same area.
Check whether your neighbours keep any animals in their yard since if they do the smell may be unbearable. Check also the distance from the town, the access, whether there is a telephone service, the nearest doctor, the frequency of the local post etc. Bear in mind that the cottage may be eligible for an improvement grant from the Government, if it is of historic interest. Your architect can advise you on this.
Upon signing a contract, the Purchaser is liable to pay stamp duty which amounts to 0.115% of a purchase price up to CY 100.000, and then at a rate of 0.2% on any purchase price in excess of CY100.000.Land registry fees are payable when the owner ship of the property is transferred. This is on a sliding scale, ranging from 5% to 8% depending upon the value of the property.
Compared with other international financial centres, Cyprus offers a distinct benefit in the form of double taxation treaties. Agreements with an increasing number of countries eliminate the double taxation of income earned in any one of these countries. In practice, the tax levied by one country is credited against the tax levied in the taxpayer’s country of residence. Where different tax rates apply, the tax payer will ultimately not pay more than the higher of the two rates of the respectively countries.