Minister says points system has changed allocation of Turkish Cypriot properties

Nicosia, Cyprus. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou on Monday welcomed a points-based system for allocating properties belonging to Turkish Cypriots who fled north during and after 1974. The properties are allocated to Greek Cypriots who fled in the opposite direction and to their descendants.

Allocation reform

Ioannou said the previous system had gaps in decision-making, relied heavily on the discretion of individual guardians and lacked adequate controls. The government introduced a new legislative framework in July 2025 to redesign how the properties are allocated, monitored and used, he said.

Under the framework, points based on social and economic criteria are intended to make the selection of beneficiaries more objective and transparent, according to the minister.

Lease audits

Ioannou said the government is also auditing existing leases and addressing breaches of their terms. Over the past three years, authorities audited 4,032 leases for commercial premises, identified 512 violations and brought 79 premises back under government control. Compliance or legal procedures are under way in other cases.

Authorities also audited 864 leases for properties granted to local authorities, identifying 78 violations. Eight leases were terminated, and compliance measures were taken in 45 cases.

Ioannou said the findings showed the need for systematic monitoring and checks.