Repairs to dangerous buildings across Cyprus are being delayed by a combination of labour shortages, complicated ownership arrangements, funding problems and legal procedures.
Contractors say it can take six to eight months to find workers. Demand is high as previously approved projects move into construction, while new developments, renovations and existing projects all compete for staff. Shortages affect many trades, including steel fixers, formworkers, aluminium workers and carpenters.
The situation is making smaller jobs harder to arrange. Contractors often prefer large developments, where supervisors, foremen and engineers can support more extensive work. Repairs to dangerous buildings, by contrast, may involve isolated jobs on existing properties.
ETEK secretary-general Andreas Theodotou said contractors can be reluctant to take on these projects because many dangerous buildings are jointly owned by a number of people. Coordinating work can be difficult, and repairs may reveal unexpected damage that adds to the cost. A shortage of affordable workers further reduces contractors’ willingness to take on such jobs.
Owners must also act after authorities identify a dangerous building and send notices. They need to complete the required procedures, appoint an engineer and find a contractor. According to OEB director-general Michalis Antoniou, delays can arise before work begins: owners may disagree, funding may not be available, or legal steps may remain unresolved. These obstacles can prevent repairs even when workers are available.
Dangerous buildings discussions
The House of Representatives’ Interior Committee is discussing changes to the rules for dangerous buildings. Proposals include giving District Local Government Organisations stronger powers to arrange necessary work when owners do not act. Under the current system, authorities need a court order if an owner refuses access. Proposed changes could allow intervention without the owner’s consent or a court order, subject to conditions yet to be defined. The committee is also considering how authorities could recover repair costs from owners.
A further proposal would introduce periodic building inspections. Under the suggested system, a first inspection would take place 25 years after a building comes into use, followed by checks every five years.
Construction employers are also seeking changes to hiring rules for workers from outside the European Union. OSEOK argues that current quotas, set at 30% or 50% depending on collective-agreement coverage, do not meet the needs of smaller contractors and subcontractors. It wants hiring allowances to reflect each business’s needs, provided employers comply with collective agreements and labour law. The federation has also called for work permits to cover new entrants who could gain experience through training.
OSEOK plans to discuss its next steps with representatives from all districts on 14 November. OEB is continuing talks with the Government, but says no specific commitments or decisions have yet been made.
By Andreas Potamitis
Translated and adapted from an article published by Politis
