“Better late than never” is the saying, and “late” in modern Greece is only 180 years or so. The case in point refers to the establishment of a unified and functional land registry (cadastre) in the country.

Greece, alone amongst EU members, still lacks such a fundamental component of a rule of law state, although the first real efforts to compile one began in earnest in 2008. Unfortunately, the area chosen to commence the cadastre was the one that needed it the least — the greater Athens area, where even a tiny storage room in any apartment block is legally registered, listed on contracts and tax evaluated via almost an inch of official paperwork. Greater Athens, where nearly half the population lives, was also seen as the biggest “cash cow” for the state.

Some 700,000 applicants at the time claimed 1.34 million real estate and property rights, at 35 euros a piece.

Nevertheless, the second phase of the (greater Athens only) land registry to process the applications never commenced, as planned for 2010, as the two companies that bid for the contract filed various lawsuits against each other.

With the legal challenges now over, the 700,000 applicants will now receive a record of their claims by the National Cadastre and Mapping Agency S.A. the state-run company implementing the land registry.

The Greater Athens area, when completed, is easy to include in any cadastre, yet certain … “obstacles” may arise in areas to the east of Athens proper (Mesogia), or the Pyrgos coast, Oropos etc.