**Apartment Building Oversight to Transition to Local Government Organizations Under New Plan**
In a significant development for property management in Cyprus, the supervision of jointly owned apartment buildings is set to transition to district local government organizations (EOAs). This decision follows a constructive meeting between representatives of the interior ministry and the EOAs at the House committee on Thursday. The proposed transfer is contingent upon the EOAs meeting specific conditions aimed at establishing a new supervisory framework for apartment buildings and their management committees.
Antonis Economides, the local government director at the interior ministry, characterized the discussions as productive, noting a shared understanding regarding the government's proposed bill. This new system aims to create a formal supervisory authority and establish a register for jointly owned buildings, thereby granting local authorities a defined role in overseeing management committees.
The EOAs have stipulated several prerequisites before they assume responsibility for the oversight of these properties. Key among these is the development of an online platform that would enable management committees to register and manage their operations efficiently. Additionally, the EOAs are requesting state funding to cover initial setup costs associated with this new system.
Yiannis Tsouloftas, president of the Limassol EOA, expressed readiness to take on the supervisory role, provided their conditions are met. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that the transfer of responsibilities does not mirror past instances where local authorities were assigned duties without adequate legal authority or financial backing.
In response to the EOAs' concerns, the interior ministry has committed to funding the software platform necessary for the new system. This platform will integrate information from land registry databases and connect with the ‘Ippodamos’ (Hippodamus) planning system, facilitating streamlined management of jointly owned buildings.
A transition period of up to two years is planned, during which the government will assist in establishing the new service and cover certain initial costs. Economides indicated that he would advocate for state support to cover staff costs during this transition phase. Once the system is fully operational, it is anticipated that fees generated will be sufficient to sustain its ongoing expenses.
The reform process has been a topic of discussion for several years. Akel MP Aristos Damianou highlighted that his party submitted an extensive 80-page bill on jointly owned buildings back in 2019, prompted by the identification of significant issues within the existing management system. The interior committee has granted the ministry an additional three weeks to address the EOAs' requests, with the objective of finalizing discussions by 2026.
Disy MP Nikoletta Constantinou underscored the necessity for the new system to be functional, effective, and applicable. She attributed the current system's shortcomings to a lack of proper maintenance of buildings and difficulties in collecting communal fees. “The biggest problem for communal buildings, beyond the need to maintain the buildings, is the effective collection of debts,” she stated.
The proposed reforms also encompass measures for managing dangerous buildings and enforcing building inspections, reflecting a broader commitment to improving property management standards. Angelos Hadjicharalambous, president of the Larnaca municipal development authority, noted that the bill could significantly enhance the management of aging and deteriorating buildings across Cyprus.
According to figures from the Land Department, Cyprus currently has approximately 30,000 jointly owned developments, comprising around 200,000 residential units. The transition of oversight to EOAs marks a pivotal step toward addressing longstanding challenges in the management of these properties, with the potential to improve living conditions for many residents.
As the discussions progress, stakeholders remain hopeful that the new system will lead to more effective governance and management of jointly owned apartment buildings, ultimately benefiting both property owners and residents across the island.