The new bill extends the deadline for correcting inaccurate and "unknown owner" records; it will cease the use of real estate tax (TAP) certificates and will solve a chronic problem that used to block property ownership transfers, due to mistakes in the initial documentation of horizontal ownership.
Specifically, an extension will be granted until November 30, 2024, to:
- the correction of obvious errors in the cadastral records, without requiring the prior receipt and submission of relevant certificates or copies
- the deadline for correcting initial registrations, as well as for correcting them in areas where the possibility to dispute inaccurate registration marked "unknown owner" has already expired,
- the deadline for submitting an overdue declaration of a registrable right,
- the correction of incorrect cadastral records of expropriated lands, without burdening the relevant application with the corresponding fees
An exemption has been allowed for areas that were declared under cadastral registration before the Law 3481/2006 (A' 162) came into force, and under the Law 4623/2019 (A' 134), and are still pending cadastral registration. The deadline for those cases expires on December 31 of the year in which eight years are completed from the date of entry into force of the Land Registry.
The removal of the submission of multiple cadastral plot extracts solves the problem for those wishing to purchase separate horizontal properties in the same building (e.g., an apartment, a warehouse and a parking space). Under the current regime, the buyers in question would have to attach three cadastral map extracts to the contract, showing exactly the same plot, with the corresponding triple issuance costs.
Finally, the new bill withdraws the obligation to attach a certificate of non-payment of Real Estate Tax to notarial acts, which often causes several months' delays and is perhaps the most important factor slowing down the process, as has been pointed out by relevant bodies (e.g. the Hellenic Property Federation - POMIDA).
According to the new procedure, the "Greek Land Registry", upon completion of the registration for the transfer of a property ownership, will inform the Municipality in which the property is located:
a) for the area of the property, whose ownership changes, and
b) for the details of the new owner of the property, as entered in the Land Registry's database.
Any Real Estate Tax debt is confirmed and collected, according to the applicable provisions at the Treasury of the beneficiary Municipality.
