Title Deeds in North Cyprus Explained

Freehold, exchange, allocation and leasehold — the four deed types every foreign buyer needs to understand before signing a contract in North Cyprus.

Title deeds in North Cyprus\n\nThere are several categories of title deed you will encounter as a foreign buyer. Understanding which one applies to a property you like is the single most important due-diligence step.\n\n### Turkish Freehold (Türk Koçanı)\nLand that was owned by Turkish Cypriots before 1974. The safest category — clear chain of title, freely transferable.\n\n### Foreign Title (Yabancı Koçan)\nLand that was owned by non-Cypriots before 1974.\n\n### Exchange (Eşdeğer Koçan / TMD)\nAllocated to displaced Turkish Cypriots after 1974 in exchange for land they left in the south. Very common for developments in the north.\n\n### Leasehold / Allocation\nUsually applies to state-owned land or long-lease arrangements. Read the contract carefully.\n\n> Always insist on a permission-to-purchase (PTP) application by an independent lawyer, and never sign a contract without your own legal representation.