The Interior Ministry is preparing a wide-ranging overhaul of the Land Registry in 2026, aiming to modernise procedures, reduce bureaucracy and improve services for property owners, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou told the House Finance Committee on Monday. The reforms, he said, are central to achieving “rational and sustainable management of immovable property”.
1. Change in the method of calculating transfer fees
One of the most significant changes under preparation is a new method for calculating transfer fees. The government is examining the adoption of the declared sale price as the basis for calculating fees - similar to the Tax Department’s practice - instead of the current system relying on market-value assessments.
Exceptions will apply to cases such as exchanges or land-for-development arrangements, where valuations will still be required. The Land Registry will retain the right to intervene if a declared price is proven false.
Officials expect the new system to bring earlier fee estimates for buyers, reduce objections and appeals, ensure tax parity between seller and buyer, and ease administrative workload.
2. Simpler forms and applications
The Land Registry currently uses around 150 forms and applications. Throughout 2026 these will be simplified, digitised and uploaded to the Department’s web portal, alongside guides and sample documents.
Electronic completion and submission are expected to shorten processing times, cut costs for citizens and improve operational efficiency within the Department.
3. Compulsory sale (auctions) of undivided co-owned property
The Ministry also aims to tackle long-standing problems in the auction of undivided co-owned property, an area governed by regulations dating back to 1994. With 866 cases pending and little interest from licensed auctioneers, a new regulation published in May 2025 sets out improved procedures, including a unified venue, updated payment methods and higher remuneration for auctioneers.
Authorities are further considering outsourcing valuations to private professionals and introducing electronic auctions where there is limited auctioneer interest. Talks with the Association of Banks are under way on using their private e-auction platform.
4. Applications for compulsory access to landlocked plots
Around 1,700 applications for compulsory access to landlocked plots remain outstanding, half of them in development zones. While much of the work cannot be outsourced due to legal constraints, the Land Registry has begun reviewing older cases, rejecting applications that no longer apply and coordinating with the Legal Service to simplify notification procedures.
In 2026, dedicated teams will be established to handle access applications exclusively, with the aim of speeding up decisions and enabling faster development of affected properties.
5. New framework for state land
A new legal framework is being drafted to govern the use and leasing of state land. It will introduce clearer procedures and criteria, penalties for violations and a revised method for rent reviews. Open bidding procedures are also being considered to strengthen transparency and prevent the undervaluation seen in past allocations.
Commenting to Politis, Ioannou said the reforms are part of the government’s wider agenda to modernise public administration. “Our aim is to reduce bureaucracy and delays and to increase the productivity of key services for the benefit of citizens,” he said, adding that the redesign of Land Registry processes is a core priority for 2026.