The response to Cyprus’ small-scale building violations amnesty has been significantly lower than expected, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou revealed on Friday. Despite the measure being introduced in September with a six-month timeframe, only 550 applications have been submitted so far, even though thousands of properties have minor planning deviations.
Purpose of the Amnesty
The initiative aims to simplify the process for property owners to obtain their withheld Title Deeds, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and generate revenue through fines. The funds collected will be allocated to the Land Development Organisation to support affordable housing initiatives.
Key Terms and Eligibility Criteria
The amnesty allows for minor planning infractions to be legalized upon payment of fees ranging from €400 to €3,000. A detailed list of eligible violations is available on the Interior Ministry’s website.
To qualify, property owners must provide original planning and building permits, along with certification from a registered architect or civil engineer confirming the unauthorized alterations. According to Ioannou, the majority of these infractions involve expansions in building size or reduced distances from property boundaries.
Residential properties may be legalized if deviations do not exceed 20% of the allowed building coefficient, up to 60m². This includes enclosed verandas and pergolas. For apartment buildings, legalizing unauthorized changes requires the agreement of all unit owners.
Additionally, the amnesty extends to unauthorized constructions in livestock operations and leisure venues. For livestock facilities, deviations of up to 20% are permissible, while leisure venues can be legalized if the excess does not exceed 100m² or 20% of the designated building coefficient.
Deadline and Next Steps
To encourage participation, district administrations have sent notifications with water bills, reminding property owners of the March deadline. However, Ioannou confirmed that no new decrees will be issued to extend the measure. A slight extension of two weeks may be considered if there is a surge in applications.
Regarding foreign trapped buyers who are not covered under the current amnesty, Ioannou assured that discussions are underway to propose new legislation in collaboration with banking institutions and relevant authorities.
Source:www.news.cyprus-property-buyers.com