Cyprus Real Estate Agents Registration Council Head Warns of Dangerous Buildings Across Cyprus

Nicosia, Cyprus. Marinos Kineyirou, president of the Cyprus Real Estate Agents Registration Council, has called on the government and local authorities to deal with dangerous buildings before more tragedies happen. He said derelict, unsafe and heritage structures around the country put public safety at risk, reduce property values and hinder urban regeneration.

Three categories of buildings

Kineyirou identified three categories of hazardous buildings, each needing a different response. He warned that weak oversight, owners who neglect upkeep and slow restoration procedures are letting the problem continue.

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He said he follows the situation with great concern and anxiety. In his view, public safety must come before aesthetic considerations and the visual pollution affecting towns and villages.

A call for prevention

Kineyirou said that on such a significant issue, “we cannot afford to act like Epimetheus”. He was referring to the figure from Greek mythology who realises a mistake only once the damage is done.

He argued that society must be protected through forward planning and preventive measures before disaster strikes, instead of searching for solutions and culprits when it is too late. He cited the fatal building collapse in Limassol as an example of the consequences of failing to act in time.

Abandoned private properties

Drawing on his experience of the property market, Kineyirou said the first category covers abandoned private buildings. Their owners have not decided whether to use, sell or redevelop them, so the properties keep deteriorating.

He described the lack of meaningful oversight as the most worrying aspect. Action by the competent authorities, he said, often amounts to little more than fixing a notice to a building to declare it dangerous. “A sign, however, does not prevent a collapse or protect passers-by,” he said.

Risk for residents and visitors

Such buildings exist even in central urban areas used by residents and tourists, and in communities that draw large numbers of visitors. Kineyirou singled out tourists as especially vulnerable, since people visiting a foreign country are unlikely to know the local risks or to notice warnings about unsafe buildings.