Naomi Mehmet & Partners Law Firm

Important information regarding gas tank licences and registrations


Under new rules and requirements effective as of 1st February 2016, a licence must be obtained from the District Office in respect of any gas tanks installed at properties in the TRNC and suppliers are unable to refill any unregistered gas tanks until such time as the owner has obtained the relevant licence.

How to obtain a gas tank licence

In order to register your gas tank and obtain the licence, you must complete the application form [click here to download a copy in PDF format] (which is in Turkish and English language) and submit the completed form to the District Office together with the following items:

-  A copy of the Title Deed (Koçan) for the property

-  Where the owner has not yet taken title, then a copy of the Contract of Sale

-  Where the property is not registered on the title deed, a copy of the Building Permit (Bina Ruhşatı) for the property

-  An original site plan – this can be obtained from the Land Registry in Nicosia by attending with a copy of the Title Deed

-  For properties built after 2010, a copy of the mechanical project – this can be found in the green construction project folder with the original plans relating to the property

-  Signed Contract with the gas supplier

-  Receipt for the fire extinguisher

-  The licence fees depending on the size of the gas tank as stated below (current as of March 2016 but subject to change):

               37.25TL for a 500L gas tank

              42.00TL for a 1000L gas tank

              50.00TL for a 1500L gas tank

              54.00TL for a 1750L gas tank

If the property is situated within an apartment complex, the signatures of the other property owners may be required. However, the exact requirements should be checked and confirmed with the District Office.

Once the application form has been submitted to District Office with the above items, the District Office will review the application and arrange for the Fire Department to inspect the property and the gas tank. If they are satisfied that everything is in order, the District Office will then issue the licence.

There is then an annual charge (equal to the initial licence fee detailed above, but subject to change) payable to the District Office in December of each year. If the annual charge is not paid on time, then late-payment penalties may be incurred.

How to transfer a gas tank licence into the name of a new owner

Where a gas tank licence has been obtained by a previous owner of the property, in order for the new owner to transfer this into their name, the previous owner must notify the gas supplier of the change of ownership and the new owner must sign a new Contract with the gas supplier.

The new owner will then need to complete the application form [click here to download a copy in PDF format] and submit it to the District Office along with the following documents:

-  A copy of the new Title Deed (Koçan) for the property

-  Where the new owner has not yet received title in their name, then a copy of the Contract of Sale

-  New signed Contract with the gas supplier in the name of the new owner

-  The licence fees depending on the size of the gas tank as detailed above (current as of March 2016 but subject to change)

Recommendations for purchasers of properties with gas tanks

We are currently advising clients who are purchasing to inspect the property and inform us of any gas tanks present so we may then request copies of the relevant licences and receipts for the gas tank fees from the vendors at the time of completion along with the other paid receipts for utility bills.

Following completion of their purchase, in addition to ensuring that the electric and water meters and telephone line (if any) are transferred into their names, the clients will also be responsible for transferring the gas tank registration into their names and will need to liaise with the vendor (either directly or through the acting estate agent) and the gas supplier in order to arrange this as per the process detailed above.

Recommendations  for sellers of properties with gas tanks

We are then advising clients who are selling their properties to ensure that any gas tanks are registered in accordance with the new rules and requirements and to provide us with a copy of the licence and receipt for the gas tank fees so we may provide them to the purchasers at the time of completion of the sale.

Following completion of the sale, we would recommend that the vendors liaise with the purchasers of the property (either directly or through the acting estate agent) to ensure that, in addition to the electric and water meters and telephone line (if any), the gas tank registration is transferred into the purchasers’ names as per the process detailed above. Otherwise, if the purchasers fail to pay the utility bills and gas tank fees on time, then vendors may be held liable for these whilst they remain registered in the vendors’ names.

 

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The above article/guide is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Naomi Mehmet & Partners does not accept and specifically excludes liability for any loss or harm which may occur to any person as a result of relying on or otherwise using this information.

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