Selling in Greece

[keiththewash]

Can anyone help. I have a British registered boat which has been in Greece for about 12 years. We have decided to sell up for a number of reasons. . We have the original vat receipt when she was brought by the first owner . To our great surprise,we meet a French couple who are looking for a boat for their daughter . They came onboard today and return after1 hour and agreed to buy our boat . Their daughter is returning to Greece in Thursday and is bring img the sale money in cash . This has caught us by suprise as we had not even advertise her . Do you need to see a Greek lawyer or can we just give them a receipt for the money . Had anyone any experience for what to do. Thanks

 

[V1701]

I sold a UK flagged boat in Greece privately using the RYA bill of sale form which you can download, there's also an MCA one, Google will find them. No need for a solicitor but you might want to check the rules for transporting a large amount of cash...

 

[Tranona]

Use the RYA Bill of Sale - presumably you have the BofS when you bought her. The original VAT invoice is sort of irrelevant as the boat was in Greece on 31/12/20 so is deemed VAT paid. It would be good to have evidence that was the case - marina receipts or your Greek Dekpa. The Hill of Sale is the title to the boat so no need to do a receipt unless the buyer wants one for the money. On the consideration part put 1 eur and other considerations then nobody knows what was paid for it. No real need for a lawyer as it is a transaction between individuals, but it might help to get the BoS notarised so it is confirmed the transaction took place in Greece. This will help confirm it is now an EU boat for VAT purposes.

 

[keiththewash]

Hi thanks very much for both your quick replies. I have checked the rya bill of sale and it does seem quite straightforward. I am a bit puzzled by only putting 1 euro in sale price. This seems a bit fraudulent ,or am I being bit dramatic

 

[Tranona]

Hi thanks very much for both your quick replies. I have checked the rya bill of sale and it does seem quite straightforward. I am a bit puzzled by only putting 1 euro in sale price. This seems a bit fraudulent ,or am I being bit dramatic

Not fraudulent at all. It is not a record of a financial transaction but a transfer of title to the boat. The record of the finances is the invoice/receipt. In fact you could leave that box empty if you wished without affecting the legality of the title. Many boats change ownership without any cash changing hands, for example when a person dies leaving a boat to another person in his will. The executor draws up a BoS transferring title to the boat to the beneficiary and no money changes hands. In fact for a boat I bought in Greece the official Greek BoS does not have any mention of money on it - except for the multitude of stamps the Port Police add when they notarise it! All financial issues were covered in a formal contract I had with the seller. BTW don't go anywhere near the Greek system as it costs a fortune and only applies to Greek registered boats.

You can of course put a value in if you want, but it is meaningless. The full process of selling a boat is covered by the law of contract and you will find on the RYA site a model contract that deals with the money side. However there is no need to go through this if both parties are happy with the verbal contract you have agreed although it would be wise to give the buyer a written receipt when the money is transferred to you.

 

[Cariadco]

I've sold a couple of boats, over the years here in Greece.
I filled in a RYA Bill of Sale, took it to the Port Police, they witnessed me signing it, then they stamped the form with a couple of official stamps, a signature and a postage stamp, and that's it. Port Police were always helpful.
I always used the 1 euro plus other considerations statement.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Hi good luck with the sale .
One question , you said the daughter bring the cash ?
Are we talking Bout a large amount?
If so banking it could rise some eye lids .

 

[syvictoria]

Hi good luck with the sale .
One question , you said the daughter bring the cash ?
Are we talking Bout a large amount?
If so banking it could rise some eye lids .

I, personally, wouldn't be taking large amounts of cash for anything nowadays. A bank transfer can be done on a smartphone or tablet in mere seconds. (And I certainly wouldn't be trying to cross any borders with a large amount of cash.)

 

[syvictoria]

Genuine question. I know that Britain's great and all that , but why is the general preference for private sales to be recorded via an RYA Bill of Sale, rather than the MCA one (which is also freely available online)?

 

[keiththewash]

Hi all thanks very much. Think I will use the RYA firm and also give a receipt. Have persuaded buyers to do a bank transfer . I was not happy with cash and made it a part of the deal . Took everyone’s advice. Cheers

 

[Cariadco]

Genuine question. I know that Britain's great and all that , but why is the general preference for private sales to be recorded via an RYA Bill of Sale, rather than the MCA one (which is also freely available online)?

Oops, yes, it was the MCA one, not the RYA.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I, personally, wouldn't be taking large amounts of cash for anything nowadays. A bank transfer can be done on a smartphone or tablet in mere seconds. (And I certainly wouldn't be trying to cross any borders with a large amount of cash.)

I agree Which is why I rise the question .

 

[Tranona]

Genuine question. I know that Britain's great and all that , but why is the general preference for private sales to be recorded via an RYA Bill of Sale, rather than the MCA one (which is also freely available online)?

Either is equally valid "legally". The MCA one is preferred if you want to register the title. The RYA one does not require witnesses to the signature.

The point about a Bill of Sale is that is is good evidence of title, but not the only evidence acceptable. Boats do not have a legal identity of their own - they are chattels. Hence no legal requirement to record ownership or title (which are not necessarily the same thing). The BoS comes from big ship practice and is accepted by the registry as a document of title to register, primarily to allow charges against the boat to be registered against it, and second to be evidence of the flag state of the boat.

 

[Resolution]

Hi thanks very much for both your quick replies. I have checked the rya bill of sale and it does seem quite straightforward. I am a bit puzzled by only putting 1 euro in sale price. This seems a bit fraudulent ,or am I being bit dramatic

The wording is "one euro and other considerations" not just "one euro". So nothing at all fraudulent.