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Cyprus: House for Rent:
Are you a Brit, Aussie or Yank moving to Cyprus? Do you need a family house to rent whilst yours is being built? Rent mine! The credit crunch and the diminished property market in the UK has meant we now have 2 mortgages! The threat of spending any length of time in a Greek jail is not a pleasant thought. So the sooner we can find someone to rent it, the less pressured I will feel! I'm sure you want to help me if only for the sake of my daughter!! The villa has 3 double bedrooms, 1 single ground floor bedroom, a large kitchen, dining room, lounge and utility room plus 3.5 bathrooms and a private pool, patio area and car port and is in Mazotos, 12km from Larnaca airport. It is available for a 6 months or longer term lease from August 2009 onwards. If you want to discuss it in further detail, please contact me via my email address: victoria_566@hotmail.com
I look forward to hearing from you all in abundance! I apologise if this is not the way to go on this forum, but quite frankly we are under immense strain as a family. If you address your email Mazotos Villa then I know not to regard it as junk - and please - no funny business/junk mail as the family all use the computer. I thank you all in anticipation. Kind regards, Gracie06
Cyprus: HOME SCHOOLING:
We had been making arrangements to move to Cyprus in 2008. Unfortunately due to all the world's financial problems and the down-turn in the UK's housing markets, we are now contemplating staying here for the immediate future - annoying, but there it is! However, not being one to dwell too deeply on this point, I wondered if it was at all possible for EU nationals to home-school children in Cyprus so can anyone advise me if they do it and how I might go about it. My daughter is almost 12 yrs and roughly what are the costs for doing this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Gracie06
Italy: Long term residential rentals:
My friends Stefano and Janine are looking for an apartment to rent in Jesolo or Lido di Jesolo. Stefano works at Venice airport and is born and bred in Lido di Jesolo and Janine is English. They are having a baby and want a long term rental. They are both in their early 30's. Janine is a qualified travel agent and has worked in Lido di Jesolo on and off for many years. Stefano's parents are also residents of Lido di Jesolo so any area surrounding Lido di Jesolo and not too far away from Venice airport would be acceptable. I don't suppose they will have a lot of money to throw at this project but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Stefano is a fully qualified electrian and was working in North East England in Aviation Security before returning to Italy.
Cyprus: "My Account" button:
Oldnematode is right! I was convinced that I would be able to help but looking at the top of my page, I don't have a "my account" button either. I tried finding it through the help index but it doesn't automatically direct you there, it just tells what to do when you find it!!!! Curiouser and curiouser. When someone knows the answer to this dilema, please share it with us all!
Kind regards, Gracie06
Cyprus: Buy Abroad.com & Lawyer:
This is a message for HappyH but also for others who may have similar queries or have read messages about "the lawyer" for Buy Abroad in Cyprus. These are my personal opinions but I would be happy if HappyH could direct me to the site where she read the bad reviews.
Firstly, we viewed several properties with Buy Abroad (Cyprus). The couple that showed us around the Larnaca area and introduced us to the various developers were Steve & Sherida Cooper. This couple are saints, they are life's angels. We made a decision on a Friday to buy a particular property in Mazotos and arranged to meet up with Steve & Sherry in Larnaca on the following Monday morning (we were staying in Paphos at the time) - they held our hands every step of the way, with the lawyer, the bank, the architect, the developer, back to the bank, you name it, for 8 hours solidly, they never left our side. Whatever problem we have or whatever thought we have had since signing the contract in November 2006, Steve & Sherry have answered it, be it a phone call, an email or a text. We have asked for photos or updates or can you speak with x, y & z and despite some hectic schedules for themselves in running the Cyprus end of Buy Abroad and running the Paphos office, they always, always accommodate us. Nothing is ever too much trouble. We never have to ask twice. The lawyer, George Coucounis was the recommended lawyer. He is also the Company Lawyer for Buy Abroad Cyprus. He is a very likeable man and the reason a lot of Larnaca and Paphos developers dislike him is because in all his contracts he puts in place safeguards that protect the purchaser, ie you, whereas other lawyers, put in safeguards to protect the developer, such safeguards include the ability of the purchaser to sell the property before it is finished, to place upon the developer time restraints and a 6 week snagging time at the end of the build. He also makes sure that if for any reason the property is not ready on time, then the developer has to pay to the purchaser an agreed sum of money on a monthly basis to cover renting fees if it came to this and this may be necessary in extreme cases such as an earthquake etc etc. George is a similar age to myself (47, there said it), his wife also works in the practice and you could not meet a nicer couple. If George promises to do something or send you something, he first does it by email and also puts a hard copy in the post. If you send him money by whatever method, he always sends you a receipt and is honest enough to tell you if there is money left over which he puts in his clients account or in their bank account if one exists. We often email George with how things are progressing in the UK and if we are encountering any problems, he then passes these on to Steve & Sherry and to the developer also. We make a point of calling in to see George if we are in Cyprus - if he is not busy, he always welcomes his clients. My husband is intending to meet with him on a forthcoming trip - some business and some pleasure. I am sure they will chat over a coffee. George is a well respected and much cherished lawyer. My family and I can only speak well of him. I have dealt with many foreign lawyers in my time in various countries and you will be hard pushed to meet someone as conscientous and honest as George. Coincidentally, many of the Paphos clients often complain that they can't find or have recommended to them a lawyer and I have known George to travel from Larnaca to Paphos to accommodate a couple who want him to act for them. He does this willingly. George also writes columns for many legal journals and the main Cypriot newspapers. He will not let you sign something until he is sure that you fully understand. There is no rush. In fact we were a month late in paying our initial deposit and his fees. We kept him up to date with our situation in the UK and the builder was so convinced that we would come through with our payment, that he started building before our deposit was logged and before George's fees were paid! Trust me, you will have no problems with George or with Buy Abroad. George is the lawyer up in Larnaca, there is another one with a similar sounding name down by the harbour. They might have family connections, but George is the bees knees and there is no confusing his professionalism with anyone else. Kind regards, Gracie06
Cyprus: moving to cyprus:
Hi, go and speak to George, Chris (male) and the team at Paphos Finders. If you type it in your search engine, it should come up. They have property to rent, short and long term and they are a most helpful bunch. George is a builder, Greek Cypriot from London, Chris is Greek Cypriot and the rest of the team are generally brits but all who work there are easy to talk to. They also sell resales and build off-plan villas so when the time is right, he's your man as you will get want you want for a lot less than other builders.
Gracie06
Cyprus: Done It - in 2004 and still here :-):
Hello - my family, husband, myself, child, father-in-law and 2 dogs are coming to Cyprus in 2008. We will be living near Larnaca.
We, too are looking forward to a change in lifestyle and cannot wait to embrace all that Cyprus has to offer.
My husband already has a job lined up so he's OK. I, too have some ideas about what I want to do when I get there but like you, will be in the position where working part time for a UK company would be advantageous in the interim period.
Please could you answer the following for me. I know these questions may sound stupid but I would really appreciate your advice.
Does the company that you work for, presumably based in the UK (as opposed to an expat UK company in Cyprus) know you live in Cyprus and if so, do you receive your admin work by email etc.
Do you get paid in Sterling and if so, is this transferred to Cyprus by the company and then exchanged to CYP/EUR or do you just bank it in the UK as if you were a UK employee but then presumably you are paying tax and NI in the UK when you are a resident of Cyprus so how do you declare your tax at both ends?
Was the UK company you work for, a company that you had worked for before when in the UK but if not, how did you pursuade them to employ you when you live in Cyprus?
Your help would he greatly appreciated.
Cyprus: relocation:
Hello Pants. My family are hoping to relocate to Cyprus in 2008. We actually refer to Cyprus as "home" even though we are still very much UK citizens. Although we are not resident yet, many good people through this forum have helped us on our way with ideas and information. Always listen to someone who is living the dream and is making it work.
YES, their motoring skills leave a lot to be desired and YES, they abandon their cars wherever they want and YES they can get rude and aggressive BUT SO DO WE BRITS. I don't find driving a problem. Drive like you were taught in the UK but expect the unexpected and you will be fine.
Carbon footprints apart, where in the UK could you leave a car engine running for over an hour just to keep the car cool whilst you eat at a restaurant. A Greek Cypriot friend of ours does that! Do that in the UK and within 8 seconds or less, your car would have disappeared!!!
At least they don't have hoodie culture or gun wielding gangs, children are much safer in Cyprus, you don't have to keep looking over your shoulder for a paedo and although they have an increasing drug problem its nothing like we have in the UK. In Cyprus they have all the right bars, bells and braces in place to deal severely with anyone involved in drugs.
As for the kindred spirit, we have been bowled over by their generosity. We have made quite a few Cypriot friends already who are very supportive of our move and go out of their way to check up on our progress. We have based ourselves near Larnaca and whilst we are on a small estate surrounded by mainly brits, we are very close to the village and we practice our greek every time we go down there. Sure, we make lots of mistakes, but they help us by correcting us and explaining how we should say it. Because we make the effort, we get far more in return. Recently we went for a holiday and we drove to our village, parked the hire car and went for a walk. Word got out that we had returned and when we got back to the car we had been showered with gifts of lemons and grapes and a very large water melon but there was no one in the street to thank!!
As for the Greek Cypriot people themselves, we find them to be generally very warm hearted. Surely there are good and bad in every race??
In the UK, at any one time there are 81,000 people in prison and more than 10,000 people from every country under the sun on community service, or in secure hostels or attending drug clinics etc. In Cyprus there are approx 400 people in prison and they will jail you for £100 of debt. The Greek Cypriots are governed by right and wrong and a sense of duty and respect to others, something that has sadly disappeared in the UK. No one in their right mind would want to be in a Greek or Cypriot prison so they tend to be honest people and on an island, where would you go to get away?
In the UK, if I am faced with a group of teens, I tend to cross over the road to avoid any possible confrontation. In Cyprus, young to mid teens may congregate at coffee bars but you rarely see them drunk and groups of teens are usually very polite. Any that we have encountered stand politely to one side to let us past and often say hello.
I am very sad that a fellow brit has had a less than desirable experience of living in Cyprus.
From a personal point of view, I can't wait to be a resident.
Gracie06
Cyprus: Employment in Paphos:
Hello VR1 - I'm told that the easiest way to find a teaching job in Cyprus is to speak to a man at The Ministry!! The Ministry of Education Cyprus, that is! Tel: 00-357-228-00600, 00700 or 00-357-228-00938 or email: moec@moec.gov.cy.
Cars - speak to the fountain of all knowledge (so it seems) - Mark or Lyn at web address: www.move-to-cyprus.com
It's always best to talk to someone who's moved to Cyprus and had to do it themselves. The information they can impart will make more sense and be more meaningful than any official website on the subject.
Hope this helps. Gracie06
PS The International School at Paphos is great. Contact there is Head Principal, Dr L Olympiou. She has 25 years+ teaching experience, spending some of this time teaching at a school in Washington, Tyne & Wear, UK. She's a lovely lady and immensely proud of her school. Ratio is 40% brit kids, 60% other races, typically, expat Greek-Cypriots, Greek-Cypriots, French, Russian, German. State of the art facilities, IT, Media etc, new library, state of the art sports and gymnasium facilities. School starts at 0730 and finishes at 1305 for under 11's and 1405 for all other age groups. Lots of external social activities for parents and children, easter, christmas, bbq's etc. Lots of clubs during the afternoon, some to pay for, some free. Seemed a perfect school to me.
Cyprus: relocation queries:
Hello magsmcc! Nursing isn't my forte and I can't advise you on such but if you are looking for a quieter pace of life and depending on your viewpoint, why don't you consider setting up your own childminding service in Southern Cyprus because I would have thought that nursing, though rewarding as a profession, would be stressful anywhere! In my opinion, from the research I've done both on the internet and from talking with friends in Cyprus, you only get paid a better salary if you have a degree. Having said that it will be nowhere near what you are getting in the UK. If you can get up to CY £1000 per month in Cyprus then you are rich but European workers tend to be paid less than Cypriots even though we are all in the same boat. However, at present you can earn up to CY £10k without having to pay tax. A friend of mine runs an information office for a property developer in Paphos and earns CY £640 a month tax free and she runs a 3 bed villa (without a pool) on this. Its a high standard of living from a low income and a lower cost of living than the UK. There's a low crime rate, 340 days of sunshine (no tumble dryer required), rain fall (other than storms) are generally for 2 months of the year (Dec thru Jan/Feb), swimming is free (no more cumbersome trips to the public swimming pool), public transport is cheap, local fruit and veg is incredibly cheap compared to UK, most of the shops sell all the leading products that you can in England. There is an M&S, a Debenhams, Next, Body Shop, and other well known high street shops. They drive on the left, the legal system is based on the UK's as is the tax system, but cheaper!!
As for Northern Cyprus, yes it's beautiful, yes it's incredibly cheap, but wages are incredibly low (lower than southern cyprus) and unless you are 1000% sure that your title deeds are PRE 1974 then ALL exchange title deeds are subject to the dodgy factor. You should read the Place in The Sun Magazine November 2006, the case of the ORAM's in the European Court. Although they won their appeal to enable them to keep their dream house in Northern Cyprus obtained on an exchange title deed (the first ruling had declared that they must demolish their house and pay compensation to the Greek Cypriot owner, which would have seen them losing their UK house also), purchasing anything in Northern Cyprus is a no-no. Even our Foreign Office advises against doing this. Northern Cyprus is under military occupation since 1974. It is not recognised as a separate state other than by Turkey and at some point when the borders are relaxed, thousands of displaced and refugeed Greek Cypriots/Turkish Cypriots are going to want to reclaim their lands and their belongings which they are entitled to do so under UN legislation and vice-versa. Do you really want to be in Northern Cyprus when this happens because I wouldn't want to be. My boss has had a house built so far up the Penninsular in Northern Cyprus that he can "wave" at the Turks on the mainland as he puts it and his title deeds are pre 1974 but a friend I work with has built a bungalow for investment purposes in Kyrenia and has an exchange title deed and following the ORAM report is now wondering whether the Turkish barrister has told him the truth!! Sunny Lane School looks fantastic, set up by 2 brits for the expat community and Turkish Cypriot kids also. Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot people are extremely friendly for sure and whilst southern cyprus has blossomed, northern cyprus has stayed very much the same as it was before the invasion. Investment has taken place in the areas around Kyrenia but you have to remember that Turkey controls this area. Turkey is not in the EU and you have no UN safeguards in Northern Cyprus. If your son goes to school in Northern Cyprus he will have his lessons conducted in English but will learn Turkish as a compulsory lesson. English children in southern cyprus learn Greek as a compulsory lesson. Northern Cyprus is a beautiful area but marred by so much saddness. Nice to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. Please remember these are my personal opions, others may disagree with me. I hope some of this helps. Gracie06
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