Authorities have initiated measures to address 1,292 buildings deemed hazardous, presenting potential risks to public safety and requiring urgent attention.

To confront this issue, new policies and increased state funding have been unveiled. These buildings are located in Nicosia (618), Limassol (308), Larnaca (170), Famagusta (26), and Paphos (170).

MP Marinos Mousiouttas, with the backing of Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, is proposing new legislation aimed at enhancing safety and resolving flaws in current laws, which insufficiently protect the public, affected properties, and nearby structures.

State funding is set to rise to support District Local Government Organisations (DLGOs) charged with managing these precarious buildings. Nicosia will receive €500,000, reflecting allocations for other districts that remain below ideal levels.

After discussions with Mousiouttas, Ioannou revealed that the House Interior Committee has drafted a revised legal proposal. Its main objective is to fortify public safety by refining the management of these perilous structures.

Ioannou noted that weaknesses within the existing legal framework, identified through collaboration with Municipalities, Communities, and DLGOs, have hampered effective enforcement. While some local authorities have addressed safety concerns, others struggle due to legal complexities.

The transfer of responsibility for dangerous buildings to the DLGOs is accompanied by legal amendments focusing on improved monitoring and enforcement. Property owners will be obligated to ensure safety, with legal measures compelling necessary action.

Key reforms include facilitating owner notifications, empowering courts to issue immediate intervention orders, and barring the use or leasing of unsafe buildings until necessary repairs are completed. Legislation now also allows for partial or full demolitions and discontinuation of utilities.

Additional measures involve registering a notice on affected properties to recuperate intervention costs, enabling out-of-court settlements, and introducing harsher penalties for non-compliance.

Previously, financial limitations restricted authorities from efficiently managing dangerous buildings. To remedy this, the Interior Ministry has obtained additional funding.

The allocation of funds to DLGOs will be determined by the number of risky buildings registered within each municipality, following a comprehensive restoration strategy devised in collaboration with local authorities.

This infrastructure initiative is encapsulated in the draft law titled “Roads and Buildings Regulation (Amendment) (No. 2) Law of 2025,” available both in Greek and English translations.