The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) has renewed calls for the introduction of mandatory building MOT-style inspections following the latest balcony collapse at an apartment block in Limassol.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, ETEK Secretary General and civil engineer Andreas Theodotou said the incident once again highlights the growing challenges posed by Cyprus’ ageing building stock, much of which was constructed before modern building regulations came into force.
The Limassol district governor, Yiannis Tsouloftas, said the apartment building had not been designated as dangerous, although the municipality had identified it as requiring maintenance.
Ageing buildings under increasing pressure
According to Mr Theodotou, many of the island’s older residential buildings were designed and built before 1994, prior to the implementation of current regulatory standards.
He noted that a significant number of properties were constructed in the years following the 1974 Turkish invasion, often under time pressures, with limited supervision and, in some cases, lower-quality construction materials.
However, he stressed that the biggest issue facing the sector today is a lack of ongoing maintenance. This is particularly evident in jointly owned apartment buildings, where reaching agreement among multiple property owners on repair and maintenance work can prove difficult.
As a result, many apartment blocks across Cyprus remain in poor condition, raising concerns about long-term structural safety.
Mandatory building MOTs proposed
ETEK is once again advocating the introduction of a regular building inspection system, similar to the MOT regime used for vehicles.
Mr Theodotou said the proposal has been under discussion for many years and expressed hope that Parliament will move forward with the legislation when it resumes its work.
He explained that discussions have also taken place with the Ministry of the Interior. Both the Ministry and ETEK believe that mandatory building inspections should be introduced alongside new legislation governing jointly owned buildings.
Under the proposal, management committees of apartment blocks would be required to appoint a qualified engineer to carry out periodic inspections. Following an assessment, the engineer would issue an official building inspection certificate confirming the property’s condition.
Inspections could support building renovation funding
Mr Theodotou described the inspection certificate as a vital tool for improving building safety and creating a comprehensive database of older properties across Cyprus.
Such a register would help authorities identify how many buildings were constructed before 1994, assess their current condition and determine whether maintenance or structural upgrades are required.
The information could then be used to develop targeted support measures, including government grants or European funding programmes to assist owners with renovation, strengthening works and essential repairs.
Where serious issues are identified, building owners would be able to prioritise urgent remedial works and address safety concerns before they develop into more significant structural problems.
As concerns grow over the condition of Cyprus’ ageing residential stock, the latest incident in Limassol is likely to increase pressure on policymakers to introduce a formal building MOT system aimed at improving safety standards and preventing future failures.
(Translated & summarised from an article published by the Cyprus News Agency)
hey Nigel. Thank you for your wonderful newsletter on the subject of aging buildings, I reside in a jointly owned apartment block, in Larnaca, of which several balconies are in need of maintenance and in some cases repair….Gaining access to my balcony, on the second floor, is proving difficult due to illegal corrugated iron constructions, which have cut off access. Residents are reluctant to report the lack of access to the town council as there is a fear of retaliation.
Personally, I would like to know whom in Larnaca I could contact to assist with my balcony repairs.
Local tradesmen do not wish to undertake the job due to restricted access as well not having long enough ladders and forklifts.
Neighbours who could assist via their property access are reluctant to do so there is a concern that a forklift would damage their respective concrete driveway.
I contacted ETEK, who recommended a civil engineer inspecting the job and monitoring the job.
In general, my block does not have a management company, only an unofficial neighbour collecting common charges (Euros 20), who is reluctant to repair anything..Her stance being that the building has stood the test of time and will do so going forward for another 50 years. With that mindset, no wonder there is a problem.
Any advice you could provide with balcony repair/maintenance would be appreciated.
Unfortunately there are many jointly-owned buildings without a Management Committee (MC) – and problems with the current law is that MCs cannot collect fees for for a ‘sinking fund‘ to pay for unscheduled maintenance work, which include repairs to balconies, etc. without the agreement of the unit owners.
I’m not qualified to advise you about repairs – and I suggest you ask the civil engineer recommended to you by ETEK. I’m sure he/she will be able to advise.
Unfortunately there are many jointly-owned buildings without a Management Committee (MC) – and problems with the current law is that MCs cannot collect fees for for a ‘sinking fund‘ to pay for unscheduled maintenance work, which include repairs to balconies, etc. without the agreement of the unit owners.
I’m not qualified to advise you about repairs – and I suggest you ask the civil engineer recommended to you by ETEK. I’m sure he/she will be able to advise.