Protests - Beyond Contempt

Cyprus property market tarnished by London protest

TENS of thousands of prospective home-buyers were greeted with placards reading ‘Shame on Cyprus’ at the gates of a property exhibition in London over the weekend.

The signs were part of a high-profile campaign organised by Conor O’Dwyer who is embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with local developers.

Conor O'Dwyer talking to potential Cyprus property buyers at Earls Court — Conor O’Dwyer talking to potential Cyprus property buyers at Earls Court

His colourful protest, camped at the main entrance to Earls Court, was staged during the two-day A Place in the Sun show, an event designed to help people get onto the overseas property ladder.

The show was organised in conjunction with the popular Channel Four television programme, which draws millions of viewers every week.

Over 200 exhibitors, representing more than 40 countries worldwide witnessed the highly visible stand set up by O’Dwyer.

Despite objections from local property developers – many of whom were left fuming, O’Dwyer said he was allowed to stage the protest with the blessing of the Metropolitan police.

“Greek Cypriot property developers came out of Earls Court on masse, they were furious with me. Some took photos; it was worrying because I had my children there. Some even said they would take me to court.

“At first they wanted the stand to be taken down, but after I explained my situation, some of them expressed sympathy and one developer even offered to help, but many were not happy,” he said.

Thousands of property dealers and customers from Spain, France, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Italy and the USA were greeted by the protest, with many stopping to discover what was happening.

“It needs sorting out,” insists property analyst Nigel Howarth, “This has been going on for far too long. His case is high profile and who can even begin to calculate the damage by the negative press?”

O’Dwyer claims he purchased a house in the eastern village of Frenaros in 2005 that was then was resold without his knowledge by the developers.

The developers have dismissed the accusations and accused O’Dwyer of attempting to extort a more expensive house from them.

This is not the first time O’Dwyer has taken his campaign to the streets, two years-ago he held a protest outside the Cyprus High Commission in London.

O’Dwyer slept in a tent and spent his day updating his website and talking to passers-by, including, he said, potential British property buyers for Cyprus.

By: Nathan Morley Published: Tuesday 30th March 2010

To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News

We have not learnt our lesson

UNFORTUNATELY, despite the fact that we have had many bad experiences when selling property to foreigners, we haven’t learnt our lesson.

We treat the subject very lightly and then when something goes wrong, we rush to deal with it, by which time it is too late.

A prime example was the event that took place at the exhibition “A Place in the Sun” in London, when Conor O’Dwyer protested outside the exhibition together with his family. O’Dwyer maintained that he bought property in the free area of Famagusta, which was sold for a second time by the developer without his knowledge and he lost money.

We are sure that before O’Dwyer resorted to the protest outside the property exhibition, he must have tried other forms of protest to be heard but had been unsuccessful.

And it is here that the relevant government authorities have a responsibility. If they were as methodical as the private sector and reacted openly and immediately, then we are sure that the problem would have been solved right from the beginning and there would have been no need for the protest in London.

This particular type of incident is not unique. We have seen reports of similar incidents in the past. And it is such incidents that discredit Cyprus internationally, wiping out any gains that have resulted from promotions and advertising that unfortunately only the private sector pays for.

Since we want to promote Cyprus as a destination to buy and invest in property, we should sort out these problems at their root and not let the situation get out of hand in the way that happened recently in London.

The state should intervene dynamically and the Interior Ministry which is responsible for this sector should place this specific problem under its scrutiny. Furthermore, it should take the necessary steps to ensure that such unacceptable incidents never happen again.

We will go one step further and propose that a relevant service be set up that will function correctly and pre-emptively in such instances.

At the same time, the necessary funds should be made available so that we can promote Cyprus in the property sector abroad. And why not, we should combine this with promoting Cyprus as a tourist destination and in this way also promote holiday homes. This should be a joint effort with developers who are also promoting Cyprus extensively.

Finally, it is sad that on the one hand millions are spent on publicity to promote Cyprus and great efforts are being made to deal with the problems of Title Deeds, while on the other hand it is all blown away by a single incident such as the one experienced in London and for which Cyprus earned the name “a shame in the sun”.

By: George Mouskides
Published Financial Mirror: Wednesday 12th May 2010

George Mouskides is Chairman of the Association for the Promotion of Property Development and Manager of Fox Smart Estate Agency.

To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News

Cyprus lawyer at centre of protest replies

FOTOS PITTADJIS, the lawyer at the centre of yesterday’s peaceful protest in Paphos, has given his side of the story concerning allegations made against him to the Cyprus Mail. In an article by Bejay Browne in today’s paper, he said:

“I have heard about this demo, and I must say I find it offensive and annoying. It all seems to be organised by Chris Wood and Conor O’Dwyer.

“My father represented O’Dwyer in court, and the case was lost.”

Pittadjis continued, “I’ve represented thousands of British nationals, and offered a high degree of legal service, it’s highly unlikely that the people outside were my clients.”

He added, “As regards Chris Wood, he was only my client for one week. He then decided not to buy the property in question.”

“In Wood’s case, the developer had mortgaged the land. In turn, Chris got a mortgage from the bank, and I explained to him, the mortgage would be taken off the developer’s name and put into his.

“He then told me he wasn’t happy with this and he wanted his money back. He pulled out because of the recession and he’s picking on me.”

Pittadjis continued, “I explained this would be difficult as we had signed a sales contract, but I called the developer to try and negotiate. I was assured by the developer he would refund all the money, I’m sure Chris has had it back.”

Pittadjis believes all of his clients to be happy and assured that his company are careful to provide a high level of legal advice.

Often in Cyprus, properties are built on land mortgaged by the developer in order to fund another project.

“I never accept to release the final payment instalment unless the bank issues a waiver to free the property of the mortgage,” said Pittadjis.

“I’ve spent thousands ensuring that I have highly trained staff, so that this sort of situation can be avoided. I want to protect my reputation. People never get to hear my side of the story, and it’s unfair,” he added.

Pittadjis said he checks the mortgage imposed on a property and that the relevant building permit is in place.

“If anyone is a cash buyer, I check I’ve received a waiver form the bank before we release the third and final stage payment,” he stressed.

He added, “Chris even contacted me to negotiate his legal fees. I decided not to charge him anything, so as not to experience any further problems.”

“I’ve provided a good service to thousands of people. As if I would risk everything for a couple of thousand euros,” he said.

Pittadjis himself is one of many purchasers who have brought a property without title deeds.

“Cyprus was never prepared for this building fever,” he pointed out. “I hope that in two or three years, the new legislation will allow owners to apply for title deeds, and all the problems can be resolved.”

Pittadjis concluded, “I have to be honest. Some of these people are right: there are lawyers who might release payment without checking the situation but we never do that.

“We always make sure we have a bank waiver. That’s why the developers have never wanted to work with me – and this is why I’m so hurt by these accusations now.”

By: Nigel Howarth Published: Tuesday 27th January 2009

To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News
Copyright © Cyprus Property News

Paphos title deeds demo targets law firm

ANGRY demonstrators converged on the offices of Pittadjis Law Firm in Paphos yesterday, protesting the lack of proper legislation concerning developers and title deeds.

Denis O’Hare of the Cyprus Property Action Group (CPAG) told the Cyprus Mail, “We’re here because we were asked by the victims of this lawyer – it’s not organised by us. We would usually contact the press in the UK, and give a month’s notice. But we’re here today to lend our support.”

“This law firm has given out bad information in many property purchase cases, and these people here today are just the tip of the iceberg. The system here is wrong,” he added.

“There are thousands of people without title deeds to their properties, and lawyers fail to inform purchasers’ about the situation in Cyprus. Many wouldn’t have brought here if they’d known,” he said.

“You would have to be slightly crazy to buy from a developer now. Cyprus is still a wonderful country, with a great climate and people, but unfortunately, developers and the legal fraternity have ruined it for everyone.”

O’Hare stressed, “It isn’t just expats and foreigners being affected with the property situation, in fact, most of the people suffering are the Cypriots. These people are working two or three jobs just to make ends meet. We have to all work together to try and fix this.”

CPAG say the Pittadjis law firm was involved in the re-selling of Conor O’Dwyer’s property to a second buyer after his sales contract had been lodged with the Land Registry.

Conor O’Dwyer, is currently engaged in a high-profile dispute with the developers of a house in Frenaros. He has been ordered by the judge hearing his case not to take part in any demonstrations and was not in Paphos.

Many other protesters, unhappy with practices of the law firm and developers in Cyprus, took part.

Janice Crossley was at the demonstration.

“This law firm withdrew my contract of sale for a property in Ayia Thekla from the land registry,” she said.

“[The act was] contrary to my instruction and they abused their power of attorney. The property has now been re- sold and I’m €188,000 down. I’ve now revoked my power of attorney and will be taking the matter further. At present I’m living in England.’

Chris Wood is 38 and lives in Liverpool. He said, “These guys were supposed to be my lawyers. I was buying a property on a large development, and they exposed me to my developer’s debt.”

“They didn’t carry out searches to see if there were any charges on the land. My developer tried to silence me by getting me to sign a confidentiality agreement.

“It goes so much deeper than this. What about the people who actually sign these [contracts]? You never hear about them, apparently it’s quite common. I didn’t sign.”

He added, “The developers got my money and I want it back. The projects are big, so he must have taken money off a lot of people.

“Even if the property was delivered on time, I still wouldn’t have been happy. Basically, I would like justice, and for him to return my money in full.”

“It’s too late for me, but I would like to raise awareness for others. This law firm, I believe, is representing around eighty per cent of the development. I think they were recommended.”

Wood attended a property roadshow in Liverpool and said a lawyer from Pittadjis was flown over, along with representatives from Alpha bank. Sales contracts were drawn up, ready to sign.

“They’re inducing people to sign and [do] not offering any protection,” Wood charged. “The property was supposed to be a home for my family, but now it’s turned into a nightmare.

“There are people I know who have said they won’t set foot in Cyprus again, the level of corruption is just too high.”

Wood says Fotos Pittadjis assured him in June 2007, that his money would be returned. He says the developer has been making empty promises since then.

“I’m owed CY£35,000,” he said “This man is a British developer, and is abusing the system here.”

Bejay Browne – January 27, 2009

Briton outraged by delay to assault case over house dispute

BRITISH home buyer Conor O’Dwyer was furious yesterday that it will have taken more than a year for Paralimni court to hear his case involving an alleged beating by the property developers with whom he is in dispute over a house purchase.

On Thursday the developers, Karayiannas, father and son, pleaded not guilty to grievous bodily harm after O’Dwyer spent a week in Larnaca hospital at the beginning of this year.

According to O’Dwyer’s lawyer Yiannos Georgiaides the court set the hearing for January 20, 2009. The assault happened on January 14 this year.

A third man, who O’Dwyer claims held him down while the two developers attacked him in the centre of Frenaros, failed to show up at court on Thursday but his lawyer guaranteed the judge that he would show up on October 23 to enter a plea and the arrest warrant was cancelled.

Georgiades said from the date of the assault to the date of the hearing was more than a year. “We had to keep contacting the Attorney General’s office for a long time for information on the prosecution case,” said Georgiades. “Conor is justifiably upset over the delay in taking the case to court. It’s not usual for the courts to fix dates such a long way off.”

He said cases involving assault were usually tried very quickly.

O’Dwyer, 39, who has spent the last 60 days protesting outside the Cyprus High Commission in London said he was furious over the length of time it was taking considering it was a criminal case and not a civil one.

He added police had not filed any charges against the father and son, who O’Dwyer said had grabbed his mobile phone and the memory stick from his camera the day he was assaulted. O’Dwyer had been filming the alleged confrontation. His phone was never recovered and the camera was returned empty.

“It’s all absolutely disgusting,” said O’Dwyer. He said he had met the new Cyprus High Commissioner and another Cypriot official on Thursday and made his feelings clear. “I let them know I was annoyed,” he said. “And I gave them a list of my grievances. I have been here 60 nights. Where is the investigation into the unlawful selling of my house that the Minister said in August 2007, would be carried out?”

“My money is in his (Karayiannas) bank and someone else is living in my house”.

Every detail of O’ Dwyer’s case has been outlined on his website www.lyingbuilder.com and he has now set up a new site www.ShameOnCyprus.com.

O’Dwyer said the only option left to him was the road to Strasbourg. He has hired an EU law firm in London and plans to take action against Karayiannas, the developers` lawyers in Paralimni and another law firm that used to represent him but now represents the developers, and all those who have defamed his name.

“What happened on Thursday with the court case was the final insult,” O’Dwyer said.

Commenting on the response he has been receiving from the Cyprus High Commission in London, O`Dwyer said it’s always “investigation, investigation, investigation”. But nothing has changed since August 2007,” he said.

“I have been here 60 days. My wife and children are upset that I’m here and I have lost two stones in weight but I am determined not to move”.

October 5, 2008
(Source: Cyprus Mail)

Tent protest aims to shame Cyprus in dispute with developers

BRITISH home buyer Conor O’Dwyer marked his 39th birthday yesterday far away from his wife and children as he continued his indefinite protest outside the Cyprus High Commission in London.

O’Dwyer began his protest camping outside the Cypriot diplomatic mission this month because August marks two years since he was due to move his family to Cyprus, and August marks the anniversary of when the Minister of the Interior told the media he was looking into the unlawful selling of O’Dwyer’s house.

In two years, no progress has been made on O’Dwyer’s case outlined on his website www.lyingbuilder.com, and he has now set up a new site www.ShameOnCyprus.com, which will focus initially on his protest in London.

“I am still getting the same rhetoric that I was getting two years ago,” O’Dwyer said yesterday. ‘That’s why I’m protesting. I’m not going anywhere until they drag this case to court and take the developers off to jail. I deserve my day in court.”

O’Dwyer spent a week in Larnaca hospital last January after he was beaten up in Frenaros when he went to take pictures of the house he had bought and over which he later came into dispute with the developers.

They have been charged by police in connection with the attack on O’Dwyer in Frenaros, but the case has yet to reach the courts.

He says the developers unilaterally cancelled his contract and kept his money, some £75,000 sterling, because he had pulled them up over what he saw as a misrepresentation of their deal. That case is also pending at court. The developers have accused O’Dwyer of allegedly masterminding a plan to extort a newer more expensive property, and exorbitant damages from the company.

“My case is undeniable,” said O’Dwyer who, said that if anyone bothered to look at it, it could be solved in an afternoon. “It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure it out. This whole thing stinks.”

O’Dwyer did receive a visit from an official at the Cyprus High Commission on Friday but the official only gave him “the same old story”, he said. A new High Commissioner is due to be in place next week, whom O’Dwyer hopes might listen to him.

Since the indefinite protest began, O’Dwyer has been sleeping in a tent and spends his day updating his new website and talking to passers-by, including, he said, potential British property buyers for Cyprus. “A few have now been put off buying in Cyprus when they heard what happened to me,” he said. “I’m not going to stay quiet any more and watch other people lose their savings. I’m sleeping in a tent. That’s what I got for my £75,000. I’ve lost my home but I’m not moving from here until I let everyone know what a corrupt society Cyprus is.”

By Jean Christou – Cyprus Mail
Published on August 15, 2008

Dad seeks Justice over Cyprus home

London property protest

A GROUP of British expats frustrated with the judicial system in Cyprus protested at Alexandra Palace London on Sunday where President Demetris Christofias was addressing a gathering of UK-based Cypriots.

The protest was led by Conor O’Dwyer, 38, from Surrey who bought a house off plan in Cyprus in 2005 and has since entered in to a lengthy legal battle with the developers.

Unable so far to receive justice in Cyprus, O’Dwyer decided to take his protest to London during Christofias’ visit at the weekend. Holding placards calling for justice and an end to corruption, the protestors camped out in front of the venue.

O’Dwyer was joined by the relatives of expats in Cyprus who are also experiencing legal difficulties over properties they have purchased on the island. Problems include non issuing of title deeds, structural faults, illegal building, or developers extorting immovable property tax and transfer fees, they say.

O’Dwyer said yesterday the protest went very well.

“We didn’t see the President ourselves but hundreds of guests came past our protest stand and accepted leaflets,” he said. “Some were shocked at the severity of the cases represented but few were surprised with problems like the issuing of title deeds as their own families had fallen victim to this trap.”

He said the protestors were highlighting a broad range of issues and said it would be good to have the future support of the London Greek Cypriot community.

“Yesterday [Sunday] was a nice introduction,” he said.

O’Dwyer was badly beaten in Frenaros in January this year after taking photographs outside the house he owns in the village. The developers who sold him the property, and with whom he is engaged in a legal dispute, were later arrested and charged with assault. O’Dwyer, who details his entire case on the website lyingbuilder.com and on YouTube, spent over a week in Larnaca hospital.

By: Jean Christou Published: Tuesday 20th May 2008
To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News
Copyright © Cyprus Property News

διαμαρτυρία 14-05-2008

Υμετ. Σχετ. Γ.Ε. 93/1984/123 & Γ.Ε. 9/52/427 Ημετ. Σχετ. Ο.9-146/2007 Ημερ. 14 Μαΐου 2008

Γενικό Εισαγγελέα της Δημοκρατίας
Κον Πέτρο Κληρίδη
Γραφείο Γενικού Εισαγγελέα
Λευκωσία

«Με το φαξ & δια χειρός»

Έντιμε κύριε Γενικέ,

Θέμα: ΚΑΚΟΠΟΙΗΣΗ ΤΟΥ CORNELIUS DESMOND O’DWYER/ Γ.Ε. 93/1984/123 & Γ.Ε.9/52/427.

Αναφέρομαι στο πιο πάνω θέμα και περαιτέρω προηγούμενης μας αλληλογραφίας σας ενημερώνω ότι τα θέματα που εγέρθηκαν μεταξύ ενός απλού αγοραστή και ενός Υπεύθυνου ανάπτυξης γης (developer), έχουν πάρει σοβαρές διαστάσεις, τύπου χιονοστιβάδας, κατά τρόπο που έχουν αρνητικό αντίκτυπο για το καλό όνομα της Κύπρου.

Λόγω του ότι δεν επιλύονται οι διαφορές σε σχέση με την οικία που είχε αγοράσει ο πελάτης μας, επέλεξε να εκφράσει τη διαμαρτυρία του μέσω ιστοσελίδας όπου δημοσίευσε το πρόβλημα του. Επίσης είχε προβεί σε άλλες διαμαρτυρίες κατά τη διάρκεια εκθέσεων που έγιναν στο Λονδίνο και αφορούσαν επενδύσεις σε ακίνητη περιουσία στην Κύπρο.

Περαιτέρω σας ενημερώνουμε ότι κατά τη διάρκεια της επικείμενης επίσκεψης του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας στο Λονδίνο στις 18/5/2008, ο πελάτης μας προτίθεται να κάνει και άλλη διαμαρτυρία.

Λόγω της σοβαρότητας του θέματος πιστεύω ότι χρήζει άμεσης αντιμετώπισης και λήψης παραδειγματικών μέτρων έτσι ώστε να αποτραπούν άτομα που ασχολούνται με τέτοιου είδους επιχειρήσεις από το προβαίνουν σε πράξεις οι οποίες να επηρεάζουν τα δικαιώματα αγοραστών ακίνητης περιουσίας στην Κύπρο.

Η συμπεριφορά αυτών των ατόμων αποτελεί πληγή στην οικονομία και επηρεάζει τα συμφέροντα ατόμων που έχουν παρόμοιου είδους επιχειρήσεις καθώς επίσης αποτελεί και σοβαρό πλήγμα σε βάρος της οικονομίας της χώρας μας και ευρύτερα των Κυπριακών συμφερόντων από τέτοιου είδους συμπεριφορές.

Παρακαλώ όπως λάβετε όλα τα αναγκαία μέτρα για την αντιμετώπιση του προβλήματος.

Με τιμή,
Γεωργιάδης & Μυλωνάς
Δικηγόροι & Νομικοί Σύμβουλοι
Κοινοποίηση:

1. Υπουργό Εμπορίου, Βιομηχανίας & Τουρισμού
2. Υπουργό Δικαιοσύνης και Δημοσίας Τάξης
3. Υπουργό Οικονομικών
4. Πρόεδρο Νομικών της Βουλής

Property protest to greet Christofias

British ex pats frustrated with an inept judicial system in Cyprus are to protest at Alexandra Palace London on May 18 where President Demetris Christofias is due to address a gathering of the Cypriot community.

A statement from the organisers said problems suffered by property victims range from the non issuing of title deeds, structural faults, illegal building and developers extorting immovable property tax and transfer fees.

Many of the victims are currently resident in Cyprus but will be represented at the protest by their offspring, the statement said.

Fronting the protest is Conor O’Dwyer, 38, from Surrey who bought a house off plan in Cyprus in 2005 and has since entered in to a lengthy legal battle.

O’Dwyer said: “Crooked Developers and Lawyers in Cyprus act with impunity. My developer has kept all my money and managed to sell my house to another family despite my contract being logged in the Lands Registry. I have been assaulted by the developers twice; the last was in January 2008 when I spent six days in hospital. Every month my lawyer chases the authorities for a criminal investigation into the reselling of my house and every month it’s the same. It’s stuck at the local level” .

By Jean Christou
(archive article – May 10, 2008)
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008