HomeBuyers' Pressure Group

The Rambler

Demoralised and Disgusted 

First I would like to thank the people who attended the HBPG meeting, especially the people who attended that had no problems but were there to show their support only. I, as an active member would offer my apologies for the complete lack of support by the thousands of people who have registered their problems with the HBPG, but who could not be bothered to attend. 

To those who did not attend, the HBPG has worked hard on your behalf; the active members have stuck their necks out for you, we have been threatened many times over the last 3 years. 

So what has the HBPG achieved?

• Firstly it has brought thousand of victims together to show that they are not alone and to offer support.
• We have put pressure on the Government who produced the Estate Agents Law and Government Property Information Office.
• We have gained correct information from the Government and their departments for buying procedures in the TRNC.
• We were the main instigators, who got thousands of buyers an amnesty so you only had to pay .05% contract tax instead of 1.50%, saving you thousands.
• We got you an amnesty on registering your contracts to try and safeguard your properties.
• We have given literally thousand of buyer’s free advice.
• We have exposed the advocates, estate agents and builders who have cheated, deceived, blackmailed and repeatedly broken the laws of the TRNC.
• Marian, along with other active members have attended meetings with the Prime Minister, Interior Minister, Attorney General, the Chief Justice and the Army amongst others to try and get some justice for you, yes it is a long road but we keep trying.

Since February 2008 we have held surgeries every Tuesday at the Pia Bella Hotel, giving up our time to help you, we have advised, supplied information, tried to help in any way we can and sometimes just listened to give you support.

The papers say 100 attended this emergency meeting, the BB say 50, the reality was between 70 and 80, which should have been hundreds if not thousands. 

There is a good chance that soon the Banks will call in their loans on mortgages, if the builder does not pay. We believe that approximately 250 people could get a knock on their door from the police and a bailiff and you will be handed an eviction notice.  The banks have a legal right to do this.  So there you are no house, nowhere to put your belongings and then of course you will be kicked off the island because you can’t support yourself. 

Scaremongering you might say, well the HBPG know better.  That’s why we called for this meeting and your support, only a handful with mortgages, memorandums or injunctions on their property attended the meeting. 

We agreed at the meeting to block the roads if an eviction takes place, I have to wonder if you are worth the trouble it could place the hardworking volunteers of the HBPG in? 

What did the HBPG ask of you, we asked you to take 2 hours of your time to attend a meeting to show your support? 

I am fully aware that this letter will upset some, but it needed to be said, I looked and talked to my fellow active members, words (apart from those in the title) cannot describe how we feel.

12 December 2008