EOAs set to oversee jointly owned apartment buildings under proposed system

Nicosia, Cyprus. Supervision of jointly owned apartment buildings is expected to be transferred to district local government organisations (EOAs), following an understanding reached with the interior ministry at a House committee meeting on Thursday.

The proposed arrangement would introduce a new system for overseeing jointly owned buildings and their management committees, subject to conditions set by the EOAs.

New supervisory system

Interior ministry local government director Antonis Economides described the meeting as “very constructive” and said there was a common understanding on the government’s bill.

For the first time, the proposed system would establish a supervisory authority and a register for jointly owned buildings. It would also give authorities a formal role in supervising management committees.

EOA conditions

The EOAs have requested that several conditions be met before they assume responsibility for the new role.

These include the creation of an online platform through which management committees can register and manage their affairs, as well as state funding to cover initial costs.

Limassol EOA president Yiannis Tsouloftas said the organisations were prepared to undertake the responsibility if their conditions were satisfied.

“We are honoured that the state considers the EOAs to be the most appropriate bodies,” he said.

Tsouloftas warned that the transfer should not repeat previous cases in which responsibilities were assigned to local authorities without the required legal powers or financial support.

The interior ministry said it would fund the software platform required for the new system.