Locations eligible for purchase
Article 3 of the draft bill stipulates that publicly owned land may be bought unless the state refuses, especially if the land is essential for the needs of the state or public welfare. Properties that have been expropriated or included in the town plan are not available for purchase under the terms of the proposed law. Nor is property that is subject to special environmental protection, listed as of special beauty or ecological interest, or protected by state and international contracts and conventions. Also excluded from the bill’s provision is illegally occupied land that is on archaeological sites or in urban areas where building is not permitted. Finally, illegal occupiers cannot purchase land that is part of a forest, woodland or reforested area. The new law will apply to real estate that is privately owned by the Defense Ministry Fund (TETHA), with the exception of properties that TETHA’s board of management can prove to be essential to military needs. When there is more than one occupier of the same property, each is entitled to buy the portion they occupy when there is a natural division. If division is not practicable, then the property may be purchased in its entirety by the occupiers. If the buildings have not been registered, the right to buy them is activated when the application to register them is submitted. That application is also deemed to be an application to purchase the property concerned.
