Anyone living in a Cyprus apartment or villa complex is likely to appreciate just how important it is to have a functioning and recognised committee. Many are, however, less well-informed on the importance of retaining the services of a professional Cyprus lawyer. One of the main issues for many communal committees is that many of its members/property owners are unfamiliar with the often complex Cyprus laws governing such organisations.
This state of affairs is likely to be more predominant on holiday home complexes where many of the owners will be none residents. Language can be another difficulty which may lead to ambiguities and for this reason, it is also a given that a chosen lawyer should have English as a second language. The good news is that a professional Cyprus property management company will already have retained the services of a Cyprus lawyer. Better still, such a company will be highly familiar with the complexities of communal committee law.
The benefits of retaining the services of a Cyprus lawyer
Apart from having the ability to navigate your committee through the legal pitfalls and jargon surrounding applicable Cyprus law, a Cyprus lawyer provides one very distinct and often necessary service. Cash flow is the lifeblood of any organisation and your communal committee is no exception. With the regular costs of maintenance, repairs and utility costs to be met, along with management fees, it is essential that cash also flows into the bank to cover such costs.
A word about communal finances
In virtually every case, committee costs are met by communal fees which are agreed and levied to each property owner for the running of their communal areas. Everything from cleaning and pool maintenance to structural upkeep and damage rectification is financed through these fees. Unfortunately, collecting the funds isn’t always as straightforward as it should be and this is one of the main areas of dispute among committee members and residents.
So how can the Cyprus lawyer help?
Collecting fees/debts in Cyprus is a little different to some other parts of the world and that is where your Cyprus lawyer comes into the picture. Apart from generating the perceived authority which accompanies correspondence from any legal entity, lawyers in Cyprus are one of the few entities which are legally allowed to collect debts.
It comes as a surprise, therefore, to discover that many residents committees still have not yet engaged a Cyprus property management company which uses a lawyer. Such communities almost always suffer from an ongoing history of unpaid communal fees which may stretch back over several years. Once a Cyprus lawyer makes errant villa and apartment owners aware that in cases of repeated refusal to pay, their property can be possessed and rented out to clear the debt, payment is more likely to be promptly forthcoming.
Get your complex back on track today
Lee Property Services offer a comprehensive range of communal management services which are fully backed by an experienced team of Cyprus lawyers. If your residents wish to make the most of their assets, you should call our highly experienced team now.
