Legislation covering jointly owned residential buildings and unsafe properties will become the top priority of Cyprus’ Parliamentary Committee on Interior Affairs when Parliament returns in September.

The issues were among the main topics discussed during the first meeting between the committee’s newly appointed members and the Minister of the Interior. Housing policy, local government reform and the reorganisation of civil protection services also featured prominently.

Committee Chairman Aristos Damianou described the meeting as both “formal and substantive”, noting that the Interior Ministry’s responsibilities span a wide range of policy areas. As a result, the committee faces a demanding legislative programme while continuing its parliamentary oversight responsibilities.

Housing supply and building safety take centre stage

Mr Damianou said particular attention was given to Cyprus’ housing challenges, including the need to increase the supply of homes and the difficulties many young couples face in securing finance to purchase property.

He confirmed that the committee intends to prioritise legislation covering jointly owned residential buildings and unsafe properties once consultations between the Ministry of the Interior and the District Local Government Organisations have been completed.

According to Mr Damianou, the two issues are closely linked because they directly affect public safety and the quality of the residential environment. They will form the focus of the committee’s first meetings after Parliament reconvenes in September.

The committee will also continue monitoring the implementation of local government reform to identify operational issues and recommend improvements where necessary.

Government seeks stronger powers on dangerous buildings

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said strengthening legislation on unsafe buildings, passing the Jointly owned Buildings Bill and reorganising civil protection remain the government’s leading legislative priorities.

He said recent balcony collapses and the fatal incident in Germasogeia had highlighted the urgent need for more effective measures to protect public safety.

Although responsibility for unsafe buildings transferred to the District Local Government Organisations on 1 July 2024, the minister said further legislative changes are needed to give local authorities stronger enforcement powers and faster procedures to address dangerous structures.

He stressed that not every unsafe building requires demolition. In most cases, repair and maintenance work is sufficient. Working alongside Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK), local authorities have already mapped unsafe buildings and classified them according to their level of risk.

The government has also allocated around €2 million to District Local Government Organisations to ensure they have sufficient liquidity where emergency works must be carried out before costs are recovered from property owners.

However, Mr Ioannou emphasised that intervention by local authorities should remain a last resort, with property owners continuing to bear primary responsibility for maintaining their buildings in a safe condition.

Jointly owned buildings bill nears final consultation stage

The minister also highlighted the proposed Jointly Owned Buildings Bill, describing it as a comprehensive framework designed to tackle the long-standing management problems affecting thousands of apartment buildings across Cyprus.

Poor management, disputes between owners, unpaid communal fees and inadequate maintenance have frequently resulted in deteriorating living conditions, creating risks to both public safety and public health.

The proposed legislation would clearly define the rights and responsibilities of owners and tenants while introducing a dedicated maintenance fund (aka sinking fund) for every jointly owned residential building.

It also proposes stronger powers for management committees, compulsory insurance for buildings and individual units, and a new supervisory framework overseen by the District Local Government Organisations (DLGOs).

According to the minister, the reforms are expected to make a significant contribution to reducing the number of unsafe buildings across the island.

Mr Ioannou said consultations on the legislation are now in their final stages after the ministry completed further discussions and technical studies addressing concerns raised by local authorities over staffing requirements and operating costs.

The studies concluded that staffing needs would be limited and that ongoing operating costs could be funded through a modest fee, removing the need for permanent government funding sought by some local authorities. He added that the development of the necessary digital systems should not delay the wider reform programme.

Alongside these measures, the government is also progressing plans to establish a new General Directorate for Civil Protection within the Ministry of the Interior. The new body would bring together services currently spread across different government departments, improving coordination, resource management and crisis response.

Meanwhile, Nicoletta Constantinou said the discussions confirmed that unsafe buildings, jointly owned residential developments and civil protection reforms remain the ministry’s key priorities.

She also argued that building safety is closely linked to the wider housing crisis, with financial pressures on households sometimes leading to unauthorised property alterations. Ms Constantinou called for faster planning and licensing procedures by local authorities, as well as improved access via rural roads to strengthen wildfire response.

Both the committee chairman and the Interior Minister concluded by reaffirming their commitment to close cooperation between Parliament and the government to advance reforms that improve public safety, address long-standing structural problems and enhance the quality of life for residents across Cyprus.