by Adminson 
Pre-1974 Clean Freehold title Land in Northern Cyprus which was owned before 1974 by Turkish Cypriots, English Expatriates, and other nationalities is regarded as having ‘clean freehold title’ and therefore attracts a premium when sold for re-development or as part of a completed development project. It is very hard to find the land with such titles now.
TRNC ESDEGER (EXCHANGE) TITLE
This means that the Turkish Cypriot owner has been given this land in exchange for the equivalent piece of land they owned in the South. This type of land is increasingly hard to find, especially close to the sea. Many Greek Cypriots fled south in 1974 and Turkish Cypriots fled North, though in lesser numbers, both leaving behind them homes, land, and buildings. The TRNC government have for many years operated an ‘exchange’ system (known as ‘Esdeger’ pronounced ‘eshtare’), whereby Turkish Cypriots who left land and property behind in the South could register their ‘loss’ with the TRNC, and were instead awarded points enabling them to take over land and property in the North which was abandoned by Greek Cypriots fleeing south, on an ‘exchange’ basis.
TURKISH MAINLAND DEED (TMD) LAND
After the conflict, the TRNC awarded land which was unoccupied with war veterans or their families, and invited citizens of mainland Turkey to re-settle in the TRNC in order to boost the population. This is where no exchange has taken place, and therefore there may be some compensation payable as part of some future political settlement to the Cyprus issue.
The current TRNC Constitution does not make any difference with respect to their pre – 1974 Greek Cypriot title deeds and most of them were expropriated by TRNC government and granted to Turkish Cypriots.
IMMOVABLE PROPERTY COMMISSION
The Immovable Property Commission was set up under the Immovable Property Law (No. 67/2005) in accordance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Xenides-Arestis v. Turkey. The purpose of this measure was to establish an effective domestic remedy for claims relating to abandoned properties in Northern Cyprus.
The European Court of Human Rights, with decision on 1 March 2010 as to the admissibility of Demopoulos and Others v. Turkey found that Law No. 67/2005 provides an effective remedy and rejected the complaints of applicants for non-exhaustion of domestic remedies.
The Immovable Property Commission officially began its activities on 17 March 2006, upon the appointment of its President, Vice-President and members by the Supreme Council of Judicature among persons nominated by the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and re-established in accordance with the Law No. 67/2005. The Commission consists of Ms. Növber Ferit Veçhi, President, Mr. Oktan Türe, Vice-President, Mr. Bengü Ünsal, Mr. Erhan Berksel, Ms. Christiana Kruger, Mr. Daniel Tarschys and Mrs. Saskia Yorucu members.
