Nicosia, Cyprus. The government is continuing its audit of the use of abandoned Turkish Cypriot properties in areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Thursday. He said more than 4,000 rental contracts have been inspected for misuse.
Audit findings for municipalities
Ioannou told CyBC radio that earlier reports had suggested more than 300 rental contracts had been terminated. Those reports also referred to 275 contracts signed by municipalities that were inspected, with violations of terms found in 31 cases.
Following the audit, municipalities began to comply with their terms in 13 of those cases, while 13 warning letters were sent and five contracts were terminated.
Audit findings for village councils
A total of 589 contracts signed by village councils were examined, with auditors finding 47 violations of terms. In 12 cases, full compliance was reached thereafter, while 32 warning letters were sent and three contracts were terminated.
Changes to the legal framework and lease revenue
Ioannou also referred to changes made last year to the laws governing the use of abandoned Turkish Cypriot properties. He said the government now allocates properties based on a set list of criteria and a points system, removing the discretionary power of the interior minister to take unilateral decisions.
He had previously described the change as a “decisive step in the effort for the rational management of Turkish Cypriot properties,” and said Turkish Cypriot-owned land makes up 10.14 per cent of the Republic’s total land area.
Ioannou said money earned from the lease of those properties will amount to around €6.56 million this year. He added that the government had focused on modernising practices and procedures, and said the previous legal framework had created inequalities among Greek Cypriot displaced persons who use Turkish Cypriot-owned land.
How do you think the new points-based system will affect access to Turkish Cypriot properties?