3. Legislation related to immovable property
Many laws in Cyprus regulate matters affecting immovable property and transactions related thereto either directly or indirectly. Such legislation may be divided into two categories, namely General Legislation and Specific Legislation.
3.1 General Legislation comprises those laws which, although not regulating matters of immovable property directly, do contain provisions applicable to rights in immovable property and to transactions related thereto. The main laws in this category are as follows:
(a) The Constitution of Cyprus
(b) The Contract Law, Cap. 149
(c) The Civil Procedure Law, Cap. 6 and Rules
(d) The Stamp Law, Cap. 228
(e) The Wills and Succession Law, Cap. 195
(f) The Administration of Estates Law, Cap. 189
(g) The Probates (Re-Sealing) Law, Cap. 192
(h) The Estate Duty Law, Cap. 319
(I) The Trustees Law, Cap. 193
(j) The Exchange Control Restriction Law, Cap. 199
(k) The Central Bank of Cyprus Law, No. 48/63
3.2 Specific Legislation includes all the laws and regulations referring particularly to immovable property and are as follows:
(a) The Immovable Property (Tenure, Registration and Valuation) Law, Cap. 224
(b) The Sale of Land (Specific Performance) Law, Cap. 232
(c ) The Acquisition of Immovable Property (Aliens) Law, Cap. 109
(d) The Immovable Property Transfer and Mortgage Law, No. 9/65
(e) The Immovable Property Tax Law, Cap. 322
(f) The Immovable Property (Towns) Tax Law, No. 89/62
(g) The Capital Gains Tax Law, No. 52/80
(h) The Rent Control Law, No. 23/83
3.3 Double Tax Treaties
Cyprus has entered into 26 Double Tax Treaties, certain provisions of which affect directly or indirectly the possession, ownership and disposition of immovable property especially in matters of taxation.