Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has announced a significant policy shift that will allow Greek Cypriot refugees living in government housing estates to finally secure title deeds for their homes. The proposal, set for Cabinet review this Thursday, aims to resolve decades of legal ambiguity for families residing in properties with minor planning irregularities.
This reform is a key part of a broader effort to provide permanent stability to displaced persons while modernizing the state’s aging refugee housing infrastructure.
Unlocking Property Rights for Residents
The issuance of these deeds will grant homeowners essential financial and legal freedoms that were previously out of reach. While the properties cannot be sold until all minor irregularities are fully corrected, the new deeds will immediately enable residents to:
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Transfer Property: Legally pass homes down to children and heirs.
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Secure Financing: Access mortgage products using the home as collateral.
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Permanent Settlement: Formalize their status after decades of temporary residency.
Increased Financial Aid Near the Green Line
In a move to revitalize disadvantaged areas and regions bordering the buffer zone, the government is boosting financial assistance for refugee households.
Under the updated framework, any household featuring at least one refugee member can now qualify for up to €65,000 in housing support, a 20% increase over previous levels. The Service for the Care and Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons is currently operating with a €50 million budget, with the Minister hinting at further funding expansions later in 2026.
The Ktizo Project: Addressing Structural Safety
The government is also accelerating the €130 million Ktizo scheme, designed to replace or renovate 358 refugee apartment blocks across the island. The ministry’s latest audit of these buildings reveals a varying state of repair:
| Building Status | Number of Blocks | Action Plan |
| Satisfactory | 245 | General monitoring |
| Needs Maintenance | 70 | Scheduled repairs |
| Structural Issues | 43 | Demolition and replacement |
Minister Ioannou confirmed that the first two replacement buildings are slated for completion in May 2026, with four additional blocks expected by year end. This initiative is vital for residents who have expressed fears that aging structures are at risk of collapse.
A Strategy for Market Stability
Beyond refugee specific aid, the Interior Ministry is positioning these projects as a tool for broader economic stability. By increasing the overall housing stock and providing plots of land, over 14,000 of which have been allocated since 1976, the government hopes to ease the supply-demand imbalance that has driven up real estate prices across Cyprus.
The ultimate goal, according to Ioannou, is to create an environment where housing remains affordable for all citizens through a mix of state led construction and private sector incentives.
Source: news.cyprus-property-buyers.com