Cyprus property nightmare inspires book (From Kingston Guardian)

Cyprus property nightmare inspires book

11:46am Wednesday 1st August 2007

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A young couple who left Britain to pursue a new life in the sun have told how their property dream quickly turned into a nightmare.

Two years ago, Pete and Lara Thenshorn sold their home in leafy Merton Park, leaving stable careers in IT and telecoms to try their luck on the property market in Cyprus.

But instead of the paradise they were expecting, the couple came up against a barrage of dodgy deals, dishonest developers and shoddy maintenance.

Back in the UK after two frustrating years, Mr Thenshorn, 36, has written about his experiences in a new book called Cyprus - Things the Estate Agents Don't Tell You.

He said: "We give a different side from the glossy one you always hear about. It's our story, but with some tips as well."

No sooner had they landed in Cyprus, than their horror story began.

The pair arrived at some flats they had bought only to find they had been let out behind their back and were occupied by complete strangers.

Another nightmare deal saw them buying an eighth floor apartment and discovering the lift had broken, forcing them to fork out for repairs before they could renovate the flat.

They were also seduced by promises of lucrative off plan deals, which left them lumbered with mortgages for properties they could not sell.

Despite the stress they went through, their sheer determination meant they have finally sold nearly all the properties they bought.

But their love affair with Cyprus has come to an end.

Mr Thenshorn said: "If people want to do what we did, they should spend a bit of time out there first to understand the people and the way things are. We just jumped in like crazy people.

"We lasted two years there, and now we don't ever want to go back again. We left England moaning, but we've come to really appreciate it now."

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