Cyprus developers urge regular building inspections and faster dangerous buildings law

Nicosia, Cyprus. The Cyprus property developers association has called for regular technical inspections of buildings and the swift completion of legislation on dangerous buildings, saying there is no room for further delays.

The association proposed a system similar to an MOT for buildings, requiring periodic inspections to identify structural problems before they endanger residents or the public.

Legislative calls

Mersina Isidorou, the association’s general manager, said building and public safety could not be left to chance and called for legislation on dangerous buildings to be completed during the new parliamentary term.

The association said amendments to the roads and buildings regulation law should be examined and adopted during the autumn. It also called for reform of jointly owned buildings, which it said has been pending since 2023.

Recent incidents

The calls follow several serious building incidents in recent months, including the collapse of part of a building in Yermasoyia in April, in which two people died, and the collapse of balconies at a seven-storey apartment building in Kapsalos in June.

The association also called for stronger management committees for jointly owned buildings, maintenance reserve funds and mechanisms allowing authorities to intervene when urgent work is needed.

Nicosia cases

Authorities in Nicosia are also dealing with a wider issue involving potentially unsafe buildings.

The Nicosia district government organisation (EOA) is handling about 1,495 cases. Of these, 711 have been formally classified as dangerous, 130 are being assessed for inclusion on the register and 654 remain under investigation.

The EOA has requested €2 million in annual state funding for the next decade to address dangerous buildings in the district.