Greece Land Registry: What Property Owners Need to Know Before the November 30 Deadline

This strict deadline marks the final phase for many regions of Greece, and unlike past practices, there will be no extensions. The Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, Konstantinos Kyranakis, has emphasized that this is part of the government’s plan to finalize the Land Registry by 2025, ensuring a fully functional system across the country.

For those negligent in completing the registration process, here’s what you need to know through 13 essential questions and answers.

1. Who is affected by the November 30 deadline?

This deadline applies to all property beneficiaries—both natural and legal persons and the Greek State. Those with registrable rights over real estate (e.g., ownership, usufruct, mortgages, easements, or seizures) must submit a declaration under Law 2308/95. This includes properties inherited but not formally accepted and properties with errors in the initial records.

2. What should property owners who haven’t declared their rights do?

Owners who have not yet registered their property rights must submit a declaration to the Land Registry. Declarations can no longer be made by post; they must be submitted in person at the Land Registry office or electronically via the Land Registry platform. All necessary documents, such as title deeds and identification, must be submitted at registration.

3. What documents are required for registration?

The required documents include:

• The declaration forms D1/D2
• Title deeds or any other documentation proving ownership (e.g., court decisions, contracts, administrative acts)
• A photocopy of the beneficiary’s identity card or passport
• Proof of the taxpayer identification number (TIN), such as a tax clearance note or a recent tax return

These documents are available at the Land Registry Offices and on the official website (ktimatologio.gr).

4. Is there a cost to register a property?

Yes, there is a fixed fee for property registration. The fee is €35 for each primary property (e.g., house, apartment, plot of land) and €20 for secondary properties (e.g., parking spaces, storage units). For out-of-plan properties and properties in rural areas or outside settlement boundaries, the fee is waived for the first two registrable rights.

5. What if there is more than one beneficiary of the property?

If multiple owners share a property, each must submit a declaration listing their respective ownership shares and paying the appropriate registration fee for each share.

6. What happens if someone misses the November 30 deadline?

Failing to register a property by November 30 could lead to serious consequences. Property owners will not be able to perform any transactions—such as selling, transferring, or issuing building permits—until their rights are officially recognized. This could involve lengthy and costly legal procedures, including court cases to establish ownership, or possibly incur fines for late registration.

7. Are there any exceptions to the deadline?

Certain cases, such as correcting errors in the initial cadastral records, may still be possible after the November 30 deadline. However, the Ministry of Digital Governance has clarified that the deadline for correcting such errors will not be extended indefinitely.

Corrections to the initial records can be made for properties in areas where land registration has been suspended until 2032.

8. Which regions allow for corrections of initial cadastral records?

In some regions, the opportunity to correct initial cadastral entries remains open until 2032. These regions include parts of Attica, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, and Crete, among others.

9. What should be done for properties without an inheritance acceptance contract?

For properties where inheritance acceptance contracts have not been drawn up, the property must be geographically identified. This can be done using a topographic map or by contacting the Land Registry for mobile tracking assistance.

10. What about properties related to usufruct?

For properties with usufructuary rights, owners must provide relevant court decisions or notarial documents. Additional proof, such as rental agreements, tax declarations (E9), utility bills, and other supporting documents, may also be required to prove ownership.

11. What if someone else has declared ownership of a property?

If another person has already declared ownership of the property, the affected party will need to take legal action to contest the initial registration. The appeals committee will address the claim before any court proceedings are necessary.

12. What corrections can be made at any time?

Errors related to personal details (e.g., name, VAT number, identity number) can be corrected at any time. These corrections can be made without the need for a formal request, as the Land Registry Office can update this information ex officio when discrepancies are identified during the registration process.

13. What can be corrected through the out-of-court procedure?

Out-of-court corrections can be made for obvious errors, such as incorrect beneficiary details, contract errors, or discrepancies in the property’s area or boundaries. Geometric corrections and updates based on new legal documents (e.g., contracts, court rulings, or mortgage agreements) can also be processed through this method.

Conclusion

Property owners across Greece must act quickly to meet the November 30 deadline for submitting their declarations to the Land Registry. Failing to do so could result in significant legal and financial complications, including the inability to transfer or sell property. Owners should ensure that they have all necessary documents and supporting materials ready for submission to avoid penalties and delays. With no further extensions expected, now is the time to complete this crucial step in securing your property rights.

Source: pagenews.gr