The oldest cadastre in Greece exists on the islands of Rhodes and Kos, where a cadastre office has been operating since 1937 during the Italian occupation, under a corresponding cadastre regulation. In recent years, Ktimatologio S.A. was established to create a nationwide cadastre. The current development status of the cadastre and land registry is outlined below.
Establishment of the National Land Register by Ktimatologio S.A.
To date, approximately 87% of ownership rights in plots and real estate across all regions of Greece have been recorded in the new cadastre. In about 36% of all regions, the cadastre is already operational, allowing the review of registered rights for specific properties.
For most regions where ownership rights have been declared but the cadastre is not yet operational, full implementation is expected within the next two years. At the end of 2022, Ktimatologio S.A. concluded a contract with an operating company to manage the submission of ownership declarations for the remaining regions, including various localities on Corfu and the prefecture of Thesprotia.
Requirements for Registering a Property
Before a property can be registered with the competent land registry service, the following conditions must be met:
- Clarification of pending issues: Any outstanding matters regarding the property or rights in it must be resolved. This includes verifying that relevant titles have been properly entered in local ownership registers, addressing any additions or corrections, checking for contractual defects, and resolving any preliminary agreements or resolutive conditions. If errors in already declared ownership rights are identified, correction applications (prodilou sfalmatos) may be submitted under certain conditions; otherwise, corrections must be made through legal action.
- Required documentation: The application must include:a) Photocopies of the titles evidencing property rights (e.g., contracts), and
b) Proof of payment of the cadastre registration fee. - Power of attorney: If the right holder does not appear in person, a valid power of attorney must be submitted.
Identification: A copy of an identity card or passport and a document confirming the applicant’s tax number (e.g., tax assessment notice or electricity bill) must accompany the application.
Consequences of Missing the Registration Deadline
Owners who miss the deadline for timely registration generally must bring an action before the competent court of first instance to obtain recognition of ownership. A court decision then enables late registration of the property in the name of the true owner. In very rare cases, the cadastre office may allow registration based on a simple application, provided compelling evidence is presented. Such cases typically include:
- Properties already recorded in the cadastre through other administrative procedures,
- Properties where ownership can be easily verified through simple evidence, and
- Inheritance cases where the previous owner is clearly identifiable.
The most recent government amendments have slightly expanded the scope for registration without court proceedings, mainly for properties that have not yet been assigned a KAEK number or where ownership can be established with minimal effort.
(As of March 2023. All information is provided subject to change and without guarantee.)