Could Brexit signal the end of the road for second-home owners in Europe?

[merchant_banker]

Could Brexit signal the end of the road for second-home owners in Europe?

New rules will limit the amount of time Britons can spend in their foreign boltholes

By
Heidi Fuller-Love
The Telegraph 27 November 2020 • 1:15pm

EU membership encouraged countless Britons to seek a second home overseas
EU membership encouraged countless Britons to seek a second home overseas CREDIT: Getty

Living on a stunning Cyclades Island, in a sugar cube house with sweeping views of the Aegean Sea, was a dream come true for novelist David Young from Twickenham, when he settled on the Greek island of Syros several years ago. Like thousands of second-home owners in Greece – and elsewhere in Europe – however, David’s dream could turn into a nightmare on January 1, 2021 when Schengen rules, limiting the amount of time he can spend in his foreign bolthole, come into force.

“Like me, many Brits divide their lives between two countries, but after Brexit – unless they apply for full residency in the EU country where they’ve bought their property, pay taxes there, and lose their NHS provision back home – second-home owners will be limited to stays of a maximum of 90 days,” says David, who set up Facebook group 180 Days in Greece to help fellow Britons affected by the new regulations.

With no flexibility for family illness, vital property maintenance or other emergencies, the 90/180 rule could also create major practical problems for second-home owners. In 2014, Stephen and Rosemary Moy from Kirstead near Norwich, spent £200,000 to have a house built on the island of Antiparos, where actor Tom Hanks has a second home.

“We have caring responsibilities for our elderly parents who are now in their nineties, so we can only be away for a certain amount of time each year. We usually travel out to Greece twice a year – via France, Switzerland and Italy – in our campervan but the journey takes us about eight days each way, which means that after Brexit we could only spend about eight weeks per year in our property,” they say.

Margaret Hibbit from Kidderminster, who bought and renovated a small stone house on the island of Crete in 1997, is also worried about the new visa rules. “Since my husband’s death I no longer live there full time, but I visit at least three times a year. Not being able to return for three months after spending 90 days in Crete causes great concern over maintaining my property, paying my bills and keeping it in good repair.”

Living on a stunning Cyclades Island is a dream for many
Living on a stunning Cyclades Island is a dream for many CREDIT: Getty
And it’s not just homeowners who will be affected: from January 1 2021 yacht owners, caravanners – and even gap year students – will have to apply for a visa if they plan to stay in the EU for longer than three months. “It will be a nightmare,” says Amanda Shaw from Kent, who has a caravan on a plot of land near Limoges, in France. “We’ll have to make the visa application months in advance of travel and there will be thousands of us applying, so it’s bound to be a really lengthy process.”

Britons who overstay their visa could be faced with sizeable fines, deportation, or being banned from the Schengen zone. “Visa applicants also need to prove sufficient monthly income. In some countries this will probably be higher than the average UK state pension, so for some people it might not even be possible to obtain one,” Amanda says.

Lured by the promise of cheap property and a better standard of living, Britons have been flocking overseas ever since the United Kingdom joined the EU in 1973. Today there are more than half a million second home owners throughout Europe. “For those that cannot become fully resident, their visiting rights will be limited following Brexit. This will be bad for local businesses and the economy generally,” says Eleni Kourakle, president of the cultural association of Chrani, a seaside resort in The Peloponnese which is popular with British visitors.

Like David Young, many second homeowners are frustrated by the lack of response from government officials “We’ve contacted numerous Greek MPs and local officials, and have recently submitted our case to the Prime Minister and the British ambassador, but with little response,” he says.

Answering a question about extending the 90-day limit, MP Wendy Morton stated: “The type of visa arrangements that your constituent suggests are not part of the UK approach to negotiations with the EU on our future relationship.”

With the recent news that Portugal will allow Britons to remain in the country for 180 days without a visa, however, second home-owners and long-stay visitors are hoping that other EU countries will offer workarounds. “Citizens from the EU, EEA and Switzerland who want to stay in the UK for up to six months will not require a visa post-Brexit. All we are asking for is parity,” David says.

[Devil]

I may be dim, but I do not see a problem. I have friends who own properties in two countries, with one, two or neither of them in the European Union.

[trevnhil]

You are certainly not Dim.. However there are property owners who wish to stay here in their second homes for more than 90 days at one time ..

[Kili01]

Well, we keep being told by the BHC to apply for an MEU1 or 3, which hopefully should mean that holders won’t need to apply for any visas, or have their stay regulated. Does this also apply to people who own property in Cyprus, but don’t live here full time?
.Dee

[WHL]

I seem to remember the Brexiteers telling us all, nothing will change ,chill out and have another cold Keo

[clive of payia]

Before Cyprus joined the EU & the eurozone, without a referendum, many UK holiday home owners coped well and worked with the 90 day rule. If they wish to stay longer than 90 days get an EU1.

[Kili01]

We used to come and go from Cyprus back in the 90's, particularly when we were thinking about buying a holiday home here. I don't remember any problems, we had to present our passports to Immigration at the airport who simply stamped our passports. When we left, they would do a 2nd stamp on the same page, both stamps dated.

Dee

[WHL]

We used to come and go from Cyprus back in the 90's, particularly when we were thinking about buying a holiday home here. I don't remember any problems, we had to present our passports to Immigration at the airport who simply stamped our passports. When we left, they would do a 2nd stamp on the same page, both stamps dated.

Dee

Yep and you could get a pint of beer and a fish supper for 2/6p,
Breaking news, Cyprus has since joined The EU, the UK has left the EU.

[Beechwood]

We have owned property in Cyprus since 2003 and have basically come and gone as we please (Covid permitting). 90 day rule makes no difference to us.

[Uncle D]

I don't think that immigration would be overly concerned about over staying 90 days, when your here you are spending your money here, if you pay income tax in the UK and spend more time here, your being a mug.

[Kili01]

Your sarcasm WHL is wasted. In the 1990's the situation was reversed, UK being the EU member, As I posted, times have now changed the situation being reversed. While we have all been told to get an MEU1 or 3 as appropriate, there will be some British owners of properties in Cyprus, who have been unable to get here this year. I guess that they will be subject to the 90 day rule. But if Cyprus wants to encourage more Brits, who are traditionally Cyprus's largest foreign market to buy property here, there will have to be a reasonable arrangement to allow them to stay in their new property here. People who buy these houses and who have not yet retired, can not stay here for 90 days, but will want to come when they please for shorter holidays,

Dee

[Lazydaze52]

Am I missing something here? If you have a second home here and can visit 90 days within 180 period, that’s six months annually. Could that not be split up to visits every other month, or 2 months three times a year, or 3 months twice a year?

It doesn’t apply to us as we live here, but just wondered.

[The Aquila]

Of course you can Lazydaze....it’s just a remainer scare mongering again

Just going to find my tin hat

[Aargent]

The article is about Shengen rules. but the UK has never been in Shengen.

[Jim B]

I don't think that immigration would be overly concerned about over staying 90 days, when your here you are spending your money here...

But if Cyprus wants to encourage more Brits, who are traditionally Cyprus's largest foreign market to buy property here, there will have to be a reasonable arrangement to allow them to stay in their new property here. Dee

Ah, if only life were that simple. If Immigration were to turn a blind eye to one group of home-owners over-staying their permitted allocation, where would it end? Big-spending millionaire Russian and Chinese investors would surely claim preferential treatment over Brits.

Cyprus cannot be seen to to be lax over Immigration rules; and indeed the EU would (rightly) not allow it to. As the UK has now left the EU, it's citizens will lose the privileges they previously enjoyed as members.

As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

Lloyd you also forgot to mention that Cyprus has aspirations of joining the Shengen Agreement which requires much tighter border controls. The heady days of pre-EU membership for Cyprus have gone.
I know when we apply for tourist visas for our family they are valid for 3 months from date of entry and can only be used once. Whether multiple entry Visas will be available we will have to wait and see.

Jim

Jim

[WHL]

Your sarcasm WHL is wasted. In the 1990's the situation was reversed, UK being the EU member, As I posted, times have now changed the situation being reversed. While we have all been told to get an MEU1 or 3 as appropriate, there will be some British owners of properties in Cyprus, who have been unable to get here this year. I guess that they will be subject to the 90 day rule. But if Cyprus wants to encourage more Brits, who are traditionally Cyprus's largest foreign market to buy property here, there will have to be a reasonable arrangement to allow them to stay in their new property here. People who buy these houses and who have not yet retired, can not stay here for 90 days, but will want to come when they please for shorter holidays,

Dee

With respect the questions you raise should be sent to Boris, asking him , where's the Deal with the EU ?
, the facts are the UK left the EU without a deal, come Jan 2021, UK expats will be treated the same, as all other Aliens coming to Cyprus no more no less

Funny tht some members on here are always having a pop at the Cyprus authorities for being lax on implementing EU rules and regulations. And now hope Cyprus ignores EU rules where Brits are concerned, Tad Hypercritical dont you think?

[galexinda]

I don't think that immigration would be overly concerned about over staying 90 days, when your here you are spending your money here, if you pay income tax in the UK and spend more time here, your being a mug.

it will be the authorities at Passport Control at the air and sea ports who will be monitoring the situation.

[galexinda]

It may have traditionally been people from the UK that buy properties in Cyprus but purchases in recent years have been of a more international nature eg China, Israel and Russia among the main players (listed alphabetically, not by number).

Cyprus is a member of the EU and has to abide by EU rules.

[Uncle D]

I don't think that immigration would be overly concerned about over staying 90 days, when your here you are spending your money here, if you pay income tax in the UK and spend more time here, your being a mug.

it will be the authorities at Passport Control at the air and sea ports who will be monitoring the situation.

Are they not part of immigration, or am I a bit dim today?

[galexinda]

Some useful information in this link relevant to this topic:

http://cyprus-crpg.org/frequently-asked-questions-faq/