**Government Rejects Funding for New Oversight System for Jointly Owned Buildings**
The Cypriot government has decided against providing state funding for a new oversight system aimed at managing committees in jointly owned buildings. This announcement was made by Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou during a session in parliament, coinciding with the return of proposed legislation to the House interior committee for further discussion.
The proposed oversight system is designed to empower district local government organizations (EOAs) to take on the responsibility of supervising management committees in residential complexes. These organizations had requested state funding to cover the costs associated with this new role, but Minister Ioannou firmly rejected the request, stating that the EOAs should utilize their existing budgets to finance the initiative. “State funding is not provided for the exercise of this responsibility,” Ioannou emphasized.
The government's position is that oversight functions should be transferred from the land department to the EOAs. Currently, the land department's scope of oversight is limited, and the proposed legislation aims to enhance local authorities' powers to address various issues related to jointly owned properties. These issues include the management of unpaid communal fees, inadequate maintenance, lack of insurance, and the failure to establish management committees.
Minister Ioannou indicated that the initial costs of implementing the new system would be modest, and the staffing requirements would be relatively small. He noted that the service is expected to become self-financing through fees collected by the EOAs. A study conducted by the land department has already identified the staffing needs of each EOA to facilitate this transition.
While the government will not provide funding for the oversight system itself, it will allocate resources for the development of a software platform necessary for its operation. This platform will integrate information from land registry databases and connect with the existing ‘Ippodamos’ (Hippodamus) planning system, which is designed to streamline urban planning and management processes.
To ensure a smooth transition to the new oversight framework, Minister Ioannou proposed a transition period of up to two years. This period will allow for the development of the system, the creation of registries, recruitment and training of necessary staff, and the establishment of operational procedures.
According to surveys conducted by the land department, Cyprus is home to approximately 30,000 jointly owned developments, which collectively contain around 200,000 residential units. The proposed reforms come at a time when there are growing concerns regarding the condition and management of older apartment buildings across the island.
The bill, which outlines these reforms, is set to return to the House interior committee later today for further deliberation. The outcomes of these discussions will be closely monitored, as they hold significant implications for the management of jointly owned properties in Cyprus.