Public half responsible for… the mess that reigned two decades ago in cadastre of Rhodes. This follows from the decision of the Ministry of Finance, which is proposed to be allowed to buy out – for 50% of the cost – state property that was transferred on forged state documents, but was normally registered in the land registry, in the absence of control. As a result, dozens of citizens and businesses, including the island’s two major hotels, are in years-long legal disputes with the state.

An ordinance specifically for Rhodes was included in the bill of the Ministry of Finance for the acquisition of seized public lands. As it provides, those who have owned real estate for at least 20 years and against whom the state has filed a positive claim have the option of redemption. Those who wish can purchase property by paying 50% of the objective value of the property, plus 25% if there is a building.

What is behind this special location? “During the Italian occupation of the Dodecanese, the Italians compiled the land registry,” explains Vassilis Peridis, chairman of the island’s bar association. “The cadastre was based on two registrations, in 1915 and 1928. Many citizens, for reasons related to the conditions of that time, did not appear for the second registration, and therefore their property was registered as public. Subsequently, these possessions passed by inheritance from the Italian administration to the Greek state and the State found itself with a large property in Rhodes ”(ss in which, as in all Dodecanese, the presumption in favor of the State does not apply). .

Hundreds of individuals and companies unknowingly bought the seized property.

In the decades that followed, many citizens were put on trial. As a result, in the mid-80s, the state took special measures for Rhodes, allowing the acquisition of these properties, many of which had already changed hands several times. “Some smart people falsified the titles issued by the state at that time and “declared” state-owned plots in the land registry of Rhodes and knew that no one claimed them,” explains Mr. Peridis. “The services did not work properly: the fake titles were not checked with the then prefecture or the then State Lands Administration and registered in the usual way. As soon as this was done, the perpetrators began to sell the property.”

The case came to light around 2010. “Someone found out what happened, and the state began to withdraw titles and file lawsuits against the current owners. Meanwhile, houses and even hotels were built on these plots. Courts of appeal have delivered conflicting rulings, in some cases acknowledging that the current owner was a bona fide purchaser who trusted the land registry. In other cases, he considered the sales invalid. The appeals are currently pending before the Supreme Court. In my opinion, this arrangement serves the public interest, as it frees the state from encroachment on property that actually belonged to private individuals before the time of the Italian occupation.