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| Living in Cyprus |  Lifestyle
In Cyprus the lifestyle is relaxed. Cypriots say "siga, siga" which means "slowly, slowly" and this is why life in Cyprus works so well. For those of you more used to the rat race and the rush of life, this may well be somewhat frustrating at first, however as you de-stress and acclimatise to the Cyprus way of life you will have an experience to cherish always.
Climate
The climate here is amazing and the thrill of waking up to sunshine so many days a year (330 on average), is difficult to describe. In July and August the temperatures regularly reach 40+ degrees centigrade, however with the low humidity, fans or air conditioning and with so many opportunities for a refreshing swim, even if you are working, life here remains a dream.
The fabulous weather in Cyprus will play a huge part in your decision on the type of property you choose, whether holidaying, investing or relocating permanently. Properties here tend to have outside living areas as well as inside ones as you live such a large part of your life outdoors here so choose an apartment or villa with lots of balcony or patio space.
Eating Out
Is a way of life here in Cyprus and with so many top quality restaurants from which to choose it can prove a little daunting at times. There are thousands of eateries available, from small family run tavernas to huge, expensively decorated international style restaurants.
To help our visitors we have a guided section which highlights those that we or our researchers have tried and tested so far. We are slightly hampered here by the fact that we have only one per month that we can recommend, but check out the archives and our directory for more information and recommendations.
Sundays are a rest day for Cypriots and they can often be found at the Tavernas / Meze Houses, or down on the beach with the entire family enjoying some respite from the working week.
Banks
Banking hours are 8.30am-12.30pm Monday to Friday. In winter from October they open on Monday afternoons from 3.15pm-4.45pm but in summer even this stops. (Most banks do offer tourists a foreign exchange counter in the afternoons however during the summer).Whilst the airports offer 24 hr banking. There are numerous ATM machines around the island and online banking is available. The Co op Banks offer longer working hours with opening on Saturdays, and are also able to offer foreign exchange at good rates with less charges.
Opening a local bank account is not a problem, staff will usually fill in the forms with you in the bank. A totally different experience!!
Weather
Cyprus does have a winter and it can be cold at times then, although temperatures at their lowest don't drop below 10 degrees in coastal towns, villages and city regions. Strong winds and torrential rain can occasionally cause some flooding in places. The rain doesn't last for more than a couple of days at a time though and most days still have sporadic sunshine and periods when you can sit outside, or enjoy a walk even if you need a fleece. It is possible to eat lunch outside sometimes on Christmas Day and enjoy a leisurely walk on the beach on New Years Day. If you enjoy skiing, then Troodos in winter is the place to be!
Jobs
Working and trading in Cyprus is no longer a problem for European Union Citizens. It is not necessary to have a work permit if you are a citizen of one of the original member states, although at the moment you still need a Certificate from the Registration and Migration Department authorising your residence permit. To enter the job market for legal employment immediately you need to make the required applications within the first three months of your stay here. The rules governing these issues are being up-dated regularly in Cyprus and as soon as we have more news we will post it here.
Setting up a company
In Cyprus is quite straightforward and there are specialist companies here who will deal with the process for you and also provide accountancy and legal services to your company if you wish, (see our "Directory" for details of a few).Taxation in Cyprus is at a reasonable level.
Company tax is 10% with a further 15% payable on any company dividend paid out to individuals residing within Cyprus.
VAT is 15% on most goods / services, although a moratorium has been granted on certain items & is still in place on a few.
Individual tax is not charged for the first 19,500Euros of annual income and after that it is charged at:
20% between 19,501Euros - 28,000Euros
25% between 28,001Euros - 36,300Euros
30% above 36,301Euros
NB, in 2008 the tax free threshold has been increased Please check with the tax office or accountant for accurate details.
Average wage
Average income is low here with the average wage being approximately 12,000 - 13,500 Euros per year.
However the Living costs make it possible to live comfortably on this wage if you have no mortgage or loans and buy local seasonal produce / goods.
If you are retired and your pension and investments does not exceed 19,500Euros you do not pay tax.
If it exceeds the threshold you can elect to pay 5% taxation on all income over 4,272Euros (2,500CYP); alternatively you can pay 20% on the difference between 19,393 - 25,629Euros (11.350 - 15,000CYP) etc as outlined above.
It is wise to consult an accountant for advice on the best option for you to register.
Taxes
The local tax offices here are also very helpful if you take all your details along to them when you go to register they will help to fill the paperwork with you.
As a retired person you need to be resident in Cyprus for 6 months prior to changing your tax status.
Social Insurance
If you are employed in Cyprus you will have to pay 6.3% of your wages, its a statutory deduction and gives you benefit of Sickness benefit,maternity allowance, and a state pension.
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Cats and Dogs
It is possible to bring your pets across with you. Now that Cyprus is part of the European Union, they have joined the Pet Passport Scheme, however at the moment whilst things are in transitional stages it is wise to speak directly with the Veterinary Services on 00 357 22 805235, (they also have an email address: vet.services@cytanet.com.cy), for the latest information on rules at the time you wish to bring your animals across. Under the previous regulations, Cyprus has been operating a Home Quarantine service for European pets coming into the country for some time, so even if you still have to quarantine for six months here, at least they are at home with you.
From the UK you need to ensure that your pets are booked on the plane almost before you are as they are only allowed to transport one set of family pets per flight. There are several carriers who will organise this for you and many International Removal Firms will also organise your pets transport as part of the removals process, including those listed in our "Oracle-Directory".
If you live in the Larnaca area, try Lovebirds Pet Shop for your pet supplies - special offers available for people using the shop after visiting our site.
Health
There is a Health Care System in Cyprus and all EU citizens are entitled to free Emergency Medical Treatment. Apparently a plan is place for there to be a special arrangement between the UK and the Cyprus Health Authority for UK pensioners to receive free treatment. We are not clear whether this has been currently agreed however and would advise that you contact the Ministry of Health prior to reviewing your Health Policy. Alternatively you can contact Europe Direct on the free number 00800 67891011. You can also ask your questions via email if you visit http://europa.eu.int/europedirect/ The reason that it is wise to check this out, is because in Cyprus the Health Care System is means tested so if you are entitled to full Health System treatment, it may not always be completely free if treatment is elective rather than emergency.
Education
The education system in Cyprus has both state and private schools, there are many providers and the statndards are very high. The schools have smaller classes and often, dedicated teachers who motivate the children to achieve their full potential. Education is held in high esteem here with the majority of students achieving graduate status and many going on to Masters.
State schools do use Greek as their first (teaching) language. EU citizens are allowed free education in the state sector but children will have to learn in Greek. Extra lesons are provided if required to help the child to learn the language more quickly in order to keep up.
Formal primary education begins at 4 years 8 months,with the child progressing to secondary education at age 12. Children must be educated until at least 15 years of age, having completed the 3rd year of secondary education.
The private sector have international schools which use their first language, ie English, French for teaching and follow curriculums sset by their home countries and send many pupils to university in those countries. These schools can be found in most of the main towns, Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca & Pafos. The British Sovereign bases also provide good schools for service personnel and will accept paying students from outside.
It is also possible to hire private tutors to give extra tuition in almost any subject if required. These can be arranged via schools or as a totally private arrangement.
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 Transport
In Cyprus, driving is on the left. You need to concentrate hard when driving however, as Cypriots rarely use their indicators and dislike stopping at traffic lights. At the moment it is still necessary for Europeans living in Cyprus to relinquish their original driving license and apply for a Cypriot one.
Car parking needs to be carefully considered due to the sun and the amount of sunshine we benefit from. Although garages are not so common or perhaps necessary here, many people do use covered parking for their cars to keep them cool and maintain their good looks. Even when parking in public areas, people tend to squash into the shaded areas.
Cars have a long life here in Cyprus due to the climate and lack of rust! It is therefore not uncommon to see classic cars maintained in perfect condition being used on a daily basis. (Unfortunately the two year MOT means that you sometimes see older cars in not so perfect condition being used on a daily basis too!) Garages here repair all kinds of problems rather than simply replacing for new and it shows in your much reduced garage bills! Garages provide a much less impersonal service here and petrol stations are manned throughout the day, the attendants often wash your screen whilst filling up with petrol. You can have a drive-in oil change in many garages for about 13.82 Euros (CYP 8.00) and takes about 10-15 minutes.
Car valeting is very reasonably priced....(hand washing the outside and cleaning the inside of your car for about 8.64 - 10.37 Euros (CYP 5 - 6.00).
Car Tax
In Cyprus you can renew your car tax online just go to,
http://rtd.mcw.gov.cy
or you can go to any Co-Op Bank and renew over the counter.
Car tax is based on the cc of your car. To help the environment Cyprus has a larger car tax, so for a small car up to 1400cc it costs 25.63Euros (15CYP) per year.
Public transport is available in the main cities and interlinking services covering the whole island are available, please check our Cyprus online directory for service providers.
Mobile phones
If you wish to use a mobile phone here it can be a much cheaper option to simply change your microchip. So Easy pay as you go chips are available from Cyta shops for 25.63 Euros(CYP 15.00) and will fit most phones. As will Areeba who have different call costs, now called MTN. (Be aware that if you have a UK pay as you go mobile it may be locked into the system you use in the UK ie Vodafone, O2 etc and although most can be unlocked this will cost an extra 17.08- 20.50 Euros
(10 - 12 CYP). Also it can be problematic if you have a phone that is not a common brand in Cyprus, although there are phone engineers who can deal with most makes, they can be difficult to find).
Wi-Fi Zone Hotspots
Is now available in selected areas within the main towns to enable you to use the internet for surfing and emails to your lap top or PDA on the move. Cytanet can set up an account for a monthly fee.
Shopping
In Nicosia is as much fun as the most cosmopolitan of other European capitals and the rest of Cyprus has its own interesting mix of Designer Labels, Arts and Crafts and necessities shops. (Check out our "Directory" at the top right of the page for more details).
Summer hours are usually: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 8.30am-1pm and 4pm-7.30pm. Weds/Sat 8.30am-2pm.
Kiosks are often open 24 hours and often double as Mini-marts as do the local village coffee shops, which again are open longer hours, depending upon the proprietor.
Winter shopping hours are usually: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 8.30am-5.30pm. Weds/Sat 8.30am-2pm.
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 Property Purchasing Tips
Buying property in Cyprus is quite straightforward although Government departments can be difficult to deal with if you do not have a Lawyer or a registered Real Estate Agent that you can trust. On the whole the process is simpler than in some other European countries. Having said this, a recent article by Antonis Loizou, a leading Estate Agent on Cyprus, highlights the problem faced by some home-buyers, (both Cypriots & foreigners), especially in the Famgusta area. He maintains that some developers are using share allocations to get around the problem of providing Title Deeds for the properties they sell.
When building developments, it is apparently necessary for the Developer to provide the Land Registry with up to 8 certificates before they will allocate individual Titles for each property so many buyers end up waiting years for their Title Deeds to be transferred to them. This has apparently led to various ways of trying to ciricumvent this issue such as the one Loizou describes occurring in Famagusta, when a Developer allocates a share of the development to the buyer in lieu of Title.
Loizou says that this is not a legal remedy & is not recognised by the Land Registry although they accept the submitted documents, which they apparently term "inseparable shares". He is concerned that if this practice is not addressed by the Government accompanied with a review & speeding up of the allocation of Title Deeds, then Cyprus housing market may have a real problem because of this within the not too distant future. (For full article see Cyprus Weekly, 4-10th August 2006, p44 or email Loizou himself at: ala-HQ@aloizou.com.cy ).
When you do decide to buy here, many Registered Real Estate Agents / Developers will support you through the whole buying process although most will advise you get a good Lawyer too & especially in view of the above, this would be very wise. There are a myriad of Lawyers practising in Cyprus - (again see our "Oracle-Directory" for just a few), and it can be easier on your mind (and budget) if a friend is able to recommend one to you.
On our site we also offer private owners the opportunity to advertise their properties for sale or rent with nocommission and buying your home directly this way from the owner can be much easier on your budget than if you buy via an agent. It depends on your needs, time factor and also availability at the right time for you. Our property section is still growing and many agents have literally thousands of properties on their books. We advertise a few agents in our directory and as you can see, some have banner advertisements on our site, which enable you to link directly to real estate agents own web-site. Local newspapers can be another good source of properties for sale, try the classified ads of Cyprus Mail, Cyprus Weekly, the Voice, Politis and O Phileleftheros for a start.
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Buying or investing in Cyprus Property
Your dream of owning a place in the sun can become reality. If you are looking for a luxuary villa with pool, or an apartment by the sea there is a large collection of property available to buy, and a myriad of estate agents and developers just waiting to sell you your dream home. Buying here can be quite straightforward, although as with any property acquisition it can also be fraught with difficulties.
Always be mindful of the important things like planning regulations for the area you are buying in, build quality and always use a reputable registered developer or real estate agent in order to minimise the risk to your investment. Registered developers and real estate agents are governed by official self regulating organisations which have government involvement.
Remember our previous advice here as to hiring your own lawyer rather than using one recommended by the developer etc to prevent conflict of interest. Alternatively you may simply wish to research a little to ensure that the recommended lawyer does undertake work only for clients of the developer / estate agent rather than the company itself.
It is also possible to buy property from a private owner and in this case you would need to ensure that the property was surveyed for you and a reputable lawyer engaged to complete the process.
If you are keen to consider buying privately, direct from the owner, and paying no commission fees, many sellers choose nowadays to advertise on-line, it is possible to find online property where buyers and sellers negotiate directly, saving commission fees. However, there are also advertising agents available who are not registered real estate agents and have different sale conditions.
Whatever your preference in property, be it luxury villas with pool, apartments, investment property, town houses (which are usually called maisonettes here) older traditional village houses or brand new off plan property that has not even been built yet, there will be something for you here.
In Cyprus, used properties are called resales and many people like this option because you have a mature garden and most teething problems ironed out and you see what you get. On the other hand if you go for an off plan building you get to choose your own fixtures and fittings from the start and some developers even undertake the landscaping of your garden as part of the package.
If you choose an older village property which needs renovating, you need to consider this as a labour of love. It can be quite costly, although there are government grants available at times to help with the renovation and at the end you will have stamped your personality on the place. If you choose not to go for the grant option and the property is not a listed or protected building, it is possible to undertake your own renovations in your own time. There are specialist builders around to undertake all or part of the project for you if you prefer. Try to choose a builder from personal recommendation or one whose work you have viewed and like.
If you need to make structural changes you will need to engage an architect to plan and oversee the work for / with you. The architect will ensure that relevant / necessary planning permissions are obtained. If you have chosen to obtain relevant grants, the work will also be inspected by government inspectors and can sometimes take longer to complete. |
Buying Land in Cyprus
When purchasing land here it is advisable to check out if the seller of the land is actually in possession of the title deeds. Ask for a site plan and if the land has been surveyed by a qualified surveyor recently. (If it has you should see stakes placed in the ground denoting boundaries). Check that the land that you are being shown is the actual piece of land that you will receive if you buy.
Be aware that there are some areas mapped out here in Cyprus as Bentonite and Mamona, these areas carry risk of landslides and are deemed to be unsuitable for building on. If your plot may be in a risk area it is important to ensure that a geological engineering survey has been carried out prior to buying. It is possible to buy maps that have been drawn up by the Cyprus Geological Department in Nicosia which will show you the soil composition, fault lines and land slides, springs and rivers as well as roads. These maps not very costly yet they can save you thousands.
Planning permission is required if you want to build on your land, so you need to know before buying if your proposed land is in a planning zone authorised by the Government, this check will tell you what the building density is for this piece of land, this is important as here in Cyprus, it is possible to be restricted to only 5% build in some areas, whereas in others you can build up to 90%.
When you are checking the planning zone information, also look into the neighbouring land in case your plot is on the edge of a different zone which may have an impact on what you are allowed to build. Building desnity also covers factors such as how many stories you can build and in the case of sea frontage properties, how near to the sea ou can build (rule of thumb, all property must be at least 90 metres away from the sea but you can sometimes build your pool in the garden between your house and the sea).
A good solicitor will point out all of these factors to you but you need to sometimes be able to ask the right questions in order to ensure that you have all of the information that you need to buy in peace of mind.
If there is a listed building nearby to the land you are proposing to buy, you need to check if the Department of the Director of Antiquities in Nicosia, would have any objections to your desired house. Ancient monuments are listed on site plans as A.M.
Lastly you will want to be aware of any proposed new roads to built in the area of your piece of land. This can be checked with the Local Planning Office and the District Inspector who should be able to assist you (again via your solicitor if you feel more confident that way).
It can be expensive to bring services onto your land, so you will want to consider if theses facilites are already available, if not, how far away the nearest supplies are and in all cases, a query to the relevant department should help to make the decision as to whether you are prepared to factor these costs into your proposed building. Cyprus is quite good at renewable energy, so it is possible to consider photovoltaic and wind power as alternative sources of electricity here. Most water heating is done on solar already but if you are building a new house, you may want to go that one step further as the electricity company will buy any surplus from you and it is possible to receive grants from the government towards installing these alternative power sources. (We have heard that occasionally, planning permission can be difficult to achieve so do check this with your local area before you decide).
The municipality water company will be able to advise regarding water supplies and it is possible in some areas to install your own well for both housing and irrigation needs, although obviously the relevant checks will need to be made once the well is installed to ensure that the water is fit for human consumption.
If there is no telelphone line close by, this can provide a costly and time consuming process even though there is no longer a monopoly on the island. Currently most competitor companies are still focussing on the bigger towns. However, CYTA, the Government phone service provider is able to offer a service whereby they provide a land based mobile phone which is charged at the landline rate but works only in the vicinity of your home and garden. Currently ADSL services are still only gradually being installed in the villages although all big towns have this service and some of the larger villages.
If there is already a structure in place on your land, check that it has planning permission as some buildings have been raised in the past without.
As you can see, preparing to buy a piece of land in Cyprus has the same potential pitfalls as elsewhere and with so many checks being necessary, it is always wise to engage professional help with this. There are a myriad of Solicitors, Chartered Surveyors, and Registered Valuers who can help you with this process.
If you go ahead and buy your land, be aware that Architects in Cyprus will usually cahrge between 4-6% of the building cost in fees so it is wise to agree your fees in advance of the project. If you are living abroad whilst your house is being built, you may also wish to hire a project manager to oversee the work for you to ensure that everything runs smoothly, this will normally cost you another 3% of the building fees however.
This is one of the reasons why many people choose to buy through a registered developer as they can take care of all the necessary checks and applications for you as part of the overall fee that they charge. Always agree your fees and any penalty clauses for not completing the work on time, up front though so that you can sleep as peacefully as possible whilst your dream home is being built.
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Landscaping & Pools
Landscaping your garden holds its particular challenges here in Cyprus as plants grow at an alarming rate compared to Northern Europe. It is wise to check with local nurseries for advice & guidance when choosing suitable plants for your area. With the limited water sitauation it is wise to consider an irrigation system or even your own well as an option to help maximise the water to your plants and prevent some evaporation.
Choose plants that are well suited to the hot environment and that need less hydration. There are local landscapers and gardeners who will be happy to advise you and undertake work and garden maintenance for you using their local knowledge and experience.
If your dream home in the sun must have a pool, it is wise to check out the various suppliers and installers here. Local Cypriots and expats are also usually happy to recommend the company they used. Always factor in running costs and pool maintenance as part of this package, there are companies who specialise in pool maintenance and will come along regularly to undertake this for you for a fee. It is possible to choose how to maintain your pool here, whether you prefer the traditional chlorinated methods, salt or UVA filtering to keep your water crystal clear.
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Hot Cyprus tips
How does one survive the heat? Don’t stay in the sun for longer than one hour and try to avoid it especially between mid-day and 4pm.
Cut down on your food intake and eat less greasy food and more fruit and veg which help to fight dehydration. Don’t exercise between 10am and 7pm (apart from regular working etc). Drink plenty of water, avoid too much caffeine or alcohol.
Wear loose fitting clothing in light colours and liberally apply a high factor sunscreen (minimum factor 15). Wear a hat and approved sunglasses when outside to prevent macular degeneration and cateracts from exposure to too much sun light.
Heat exhaustion can cause headaches and dizziness with a corresponding drop in blood pressure. People with heart, Kidney and Lung conditions plus Diabetes need to take special care.
Small children can dehydrate even more quickly than adults.
Cures for dehydration include salt replacement sachets and extra fluids.
If you do suffer from heat stroke move yourself into a cool place and wrap wet sheets around you to cool your body temperature. Call for medical assistance if necessary.
Summer is the time of year when many Cypriots take to the mountains where the air is cooler than in the towns or even on the beaches. |
Winter in Cyprus
Cyprus has a temperate climate although it provides opportunities for skiing during the winter months in the high Troodos. The temperatures on average do not fall below 8-10 degrees in coastal and inland areas and there is usually at least a few hours of sun each day.
In Nicosia it is possible to see frost on the cars occasionally on early mornings in mid-winter; which comes as a bit of a shock if you live outside of Nicosia as you would not see this phenomenon outside of high ground normally!
Apparently those who live above 600 metres higher than sea level are entitled to a heating allowance during the winter months to help compensate for the frost and snow which cause such excitement for those of us who no longer see it unless we go looking...
It is possible to see people still swimming comfortably in the sea here in December! Even as well acclimatised locals we have never had to wear more protection than a fleece or cardigan to go walking on the beach on Christmas morning to work up that appetite. |
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