Newsroom
If a tenant owes you money, can you simply walk into your own property, take their belongings, and sell them to recover your losses?
Cyprus' Court of Appeal has given a clear answer: No.
In a ruling issued this month, the court upheld the conviction of a landlord who broke into a property he owned, changed the locks, and removed items belonging to his tenant before selling it, claiming he was simply trying to recover unpaid rent.
The judges rejected his argument that he genuinely believed he had the legal right to do so because the tenant owed him money.
A nightclub dispute ended up in court
The case centered on a commercial property in Larnaca that had been rented out and was reportedly operating as a nightclub.
According to the court, the landlord entered the premises without the tenant's permission, changed the locks, and removed equipment belonging to the tenant.
He later sold some of the items.
The original indictment claimed the stolen property was worth more than €132,000, but the trial court ultimately found there was enough evidence to convict him over property valued at €2,850.
He was found guilty of burglary and theft.
'I thought I had the right'
The landlord admitted changing the locks and selling items that did not belong to him.
His defense was that the tenant had stopped paying rent and that he believed he was entitled to recover what he was owed by selling the equipment.
He also argued that he acted honestly, believing he had a legal right to the property because it was inside his own building, and claimed he was acting out of necessity.
The Court of Appeal wasn't convinced.
In its decision, it said it was "inconceivable" that someone could genuinely believe they had the legal right to remove and sell another person's belongings without their consent.
The judges also pointed out that the landlord knew there were legal ways to recover unpaid rent and regain possession of the property but chose not to use them.
A reminder for landlords and tenants
Disputes between landlords and tenants are nothing new in Cyprus, especially when rent goes unpaid.
But the ruling serves as a reminder that even if you own the building, you do not automatically own everything inside it.
If a disagreement ends up over unpaid rent or a tenant refuses to leave, the courts made it clear that the solution is to follow the legal process, not to take matters into your own hands.
The Court of Appeal dismissed all of the landlord's arguments and upheld the original conviction, reinforcing that property disputes must be resolved through the courts, not by self-help.
