Do buyers pay estate agent fees in Cyprus?

Normally no. The seller pays. You only pay if you hire an agent to search for you, and that fee must be agreed in writing.

Can I use more than one estate agent in Paphos?

Yes. Buyers are not tied to one agent, and most people view with two or three. In practice, if two agents show you the same property, the one who introduced it first usually claims the sale, so keep a note of who showed you what.

How do I know an agent is legitimate?

Ask for their registration and licence numbers and check them on the Real Estate Agents Registration Council's register. Licensed agents must show both numbers on adverts and documents.

Should I use the lawyer my agent recommends?

It is safer not to. Use a lawyer who has no link to your agent or seller. See our Paphos property lawyer introduction.

Are house prices rising in Paphos?

Our Paphos property market update tracks prices and what is driving them. Ask any agent for recent sold prices in the street, not just asking prices.

What are the pitfalls in buying property in Cyprus?

The main ones are missing title deeds, a developer's mortgage on the land, unpermitted extensions and using a lawyer who isn't independent. Your agent can't protect you from these; your own lawyer can. See our buyer due diligence guide.

How much deposit do you need for a house in Cyprus?

Usually a €5,000 to €10,000 reservation deposit, then about 10% on signing a resale contract or 20% to 30% for a new-build. Keep the reservation refundable until your lawyer has run the searches.

Property services · Estate agents

Estate Agents in Paphos: Get Matched With a Registered Agent Who Knows Your Area

Paphos has dozens of estate agents, and the same villa is often listed by several of them. What matters is that your agent is registered and licensed, knows the villages you are looking at, and is straight with you about title deeds. We match UK buyers with vetted agents for free, and show you how to check any agent yourself.

Vetted, licensed partners
Free introduction
Referral fees disclosed

Request an introduction

Free. I reply personally within one working day.

The short version

Estate agents in Paphos must be registered and licensed under the Real Estate Agents Law 71(I)/2010. Check the numbers on the council's register at ktimatomesites.com.

Sellers normally pay the commission, typically 3–5% plus 19% VAT. Buyers usually pay nothing to the seller's agent.

The same villa is often listed by several agents. Two or three good local agents plus Bazaraki cover most of the market.

Your agent works for the seller. Use your own lawyer for the searches, never the agent's.

We match you free with a registered Paphos agent who sells in the villages you want.

Why choosing an estate agent in Paphos matters

In Cyprus, the estate agent is normally paid by the seller. That is not a problem in itself, but it means the agent's job is to sell. The better ones still tell you when a property has no title deed or a steep drive. The worse ones do not, and a few are not registered at all.

Paphos agents also differ in what they sell. Some focus on resales in the coastal villages north of the town. Some are developer sales offices showing only their own new builds. Some cover the whole district but know certain areas far better than others. Matching the agent to your brief saves you days of viewings.

We do not sell property. We match you with an agent who covers what you are looking for, and we check they are registered first. Ask every agent about the title deed on each property they show you. Our other services, from lawyers to due diligence, are on Paphos property services.

How to check an estate agent in Paphos is registered

Every estate agent in Cyprus must be registered with the Real Estate Agents Registration Council, a body under the Ministry of Interior, under the Real Estate Agents Law 71(I)/2010. Registration is not enough on its own. The agent also needs an annual licence, renewed each year, and must hold insurance cover of at least €200,000.

Checking takes two minutes:

Look for the numbers. A licensed agent must show the words "registered and licensed real estate agent" with their registration number and licence number on every advert and document.
Search the register. The Council publishes a directory of licensed agents on its website, ktimatomesites.com. Check the name and numbers match.
Check the licence year. The licence runs to 31 December, so a certificate from last year does not count.

A whitewashed townhouse covered in bougainvillea in Chloraka — Bougainvillea on a townhouse in Chloraka

The Council's stated purpose is to protect buyers from unlicensed agents and possible money scams, and it takes complaints through an online form. If an "agent" cannot give you a registration number, walk away. Our article on property scams in Cyprus explains why.

Types of estate agent in Paphos

You will deal with at least one of these. Knowing which one you are talking to tells you whose interests they represent.

Resale agency

Lists homes for private sellers

Developer sales office

Sells one developer's new builds

Search specialist

Works from your brief

Wins 1 of 4

Who pays them

Seller (commission)

Developer

You, or a share of seller's commission

Stock you see

Their listings plus shared stock

One developer only

Whole market

Best for

Resale villas and apartments

New builds, 5% VAT buyers

Buying from the UK

Main risk

Pressure to close quickly

Developer's mortgage and title delays

Fee not agreed in writing

The verdict

Most buyers use a resale agency or two. If you are buying from the UK or need something specific, a property search specialist covers the whole market for you. With any of them, your own independent lawyer checks the legal side.

What estate agents in Paphos charge, and who pays

On a sale, the seller normally pays the agent. Commission is typically 3–5% of the sale price plus 19% VAT. If the agent and seller agree no rate in writing, the law sets a default of 3%, payable on completion.

Low-rise seafront apartments in Kato Paphos in early morning — Seafront apartments in Kato Paphos

As a buyer, you should not be asked to pay commission to the seller's agent. You may pay a fee if you hire an agent to search for you, and that must be agreed in writing. An agent cannot legally claim commission without a valid agreement.

One thing to watch out for: agents sometimes ask for a reservation deposit to take a property off the market. There is no legal standard amount. Have your lawyer check the reservation agreement first, and make the deposit refundable if the searches or survey find a problem.

Our introduction is free. If you buy through an agent we introduced, they pay us a referral fee. You pay us nothing. Our referral disclosure explains how this works.

Five questions to ask a Paphos estate agent

Ask these before your first viewing. The answers tell you more than the brochure.

Ask	A good answer	A red flag
What are your registration and licence numbers?	Both, straight away, and they match the register	Vague, or 'we work with a licensed partner'
Does this property have a separate title deed?	Yes or no, with the reason and a copy of the search certificate on request	'Deeds are coming soon', with no reason
What have similar homes nearby sold for?	Recent sold prices, not just other listings	Only asking prices
Who pays your commission, and how much?	In writing: the seller, at an agreed rate	A 'finder's fee' for you as well, not written down
Can my own lawyer check it before I reserve?	Of course, and the reservation is refundable if searches fail	'Reserve today or lose it', non-refundable

Free introduction

Want an agent who passes all five?

We match UK buyers with registered, licensed Paphos agents who sell in the villages you want, and check for conflicts first. The introduction is free.

Match me with an agent Property search support

Our checks before we introduce an agent

Registered with the Real Estate Agents Registration CouncilChecked on the Council's public register.
Current annual licence and insurance of at least €200,000
Regular sales in the Paphos areas and price range you want
Experience with UK buyers and non-EU purchase permission
Happy to work alongside your own independent lawyer and surveyor
Clear in writing about who pays commission

How the introduction works

01
Tell us your brief
Budget, areas, property type (villa, apartment, townhouse, plot) and timeline.
02
We match you
With one or two registered agents who sell that kind of property in those areas.
03
You view
You work directly with the agent. No exclusivity: you can use other agents too.
04
Hand over to your lawyer
Once you pick a property, your independent lawyer runs the checks.

Registered estate agents in Paphos

We are building our list of Paphos agents slowly. Each must pass every check above before we introduce them.

Licensed and regulated

Registered with the right Cyprus body — Bar Association, ICPAC, CySEC or the Estate Agents Council.

Fluent with UK clients

They know HMRC, UK pensions and how British clients expect to be kept in the loop.

Vetted in person

I’ve worked with them or checked their work with people I trust. No paid listings.

Fees disclosed

If a partner pays a referral fee, I tell you before the introduction.

Partner profiles are shared privately, matched to your situation.

Request an introduction

Estate agents in Paphos: common questions

Typically 3–5% plus VAT, paid by the seller. If no rate is agreed in writing, the Real Estate Agents Law sets a default of 3%.

Property brief

Get matched with a registered estate agent in Paphos

Tell us what and where you want to buy. We introduce one or two licensed agents who sell that kind of property in those areas.

Registration and licence checked
Matched to your areas and budget
Free, with no exclusivity

Founder-led. Replies within one working day.

Sources checked for this page

Written by

Jason

Founder, Paphos Advisor

British founder who moved his family from the UK to Paphos in 2025. I write down what I learned doing it properly — the tax, the residency and the living-here detail — and introduce people to the specialists I’d use myself.

How I research and fact-check

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A free introduction to an independent property lawyer in Paphos who works for you, not the seller or agent. What they do, what they cost, and the questions to ask before you instruct one.

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Estate Agents in Paphos: Get Matched With a Registered Agent Who Knows Your Area

Why choosing an estate agent in Paphos matters

How to check an estate agent in Paphos is registered

Types of estate agent in Paphos

What estate agents in Paphos charge, and who pays

Five questions to ask a Paphos estate agent

Our checks before we introduce an agent

How the introduction works

Tell us your brief

We match you

You view

Hand over to your lawyer

Registered estate agents in Paphos

Estate agents in Paphos: common questions

How much do real estate agents charge in Cyprus?

Do buyers pay estate agent fees in Cyprus?

Can I use more than one estate agent in Paphos?

How do I know an agent is legitimate?

Should I use the lawyer my agent recommends?

Are house prices rising in Paphos?

What are the pitfalls in buying property in Cyprus?

How much deposit do you need for a house in Cyprus?

Get matched with a registered estate agent in Paphos

Sources checked for this page

Keep reading

Why choosing an estate agent in Paphos matters

How to check an estate agent in Paphos is registered

Types of estate agent in Paphos

What estate agents in Paphos charge, and who pays

Five questions to ask a Paphos estate agent

Our checks before we introduce an agent

How the introduction works

Tell us your brief

We match you

You view

Hand over to your lawyer

Registered estate agents in Paphos

Estate agents in Paphos: common questions

How much do real estate agents charge in Cyprus?

Do buyers pay estate agent fees in Cyprus?

Can I use more than one estate agent in Paphos?

How do I know an agent is legitimate?

Should I use the lawyer my agent recommends?

Are house prices rising in Paphos?

What are the pitfalls in buying property in Cyprus?

How much deposit do you need for a house in Cyprus?

Get matched with a registered estate agent in Paphos