A series of amendments to the legislation governing the management of dangerous buildings are being jointly promoted by the Ministry of Interior and the Parliamentary Committee on Interior, with the aim of strengthening the existing legal and administrative tools for a more effective response to the issue. It is noted that the responsibility for the management of dangerous buildings was transferred to the Provincial Government Organizations (PGOs) as of April 1.
The Minister of Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, in his statements on Wednesday, when asked whether there is data on dangerous buildings in each District, referred to a registration carried out in 2024, noting that based on indicative numbers in the District of Nicosia there are 618, in the District of Limassol 303, in the District of Larnaca 170, in the District of Famagusta 26 and in the District of Paphos 170.
The Minister of Interior made statements on the proposed law on dangerous buildings together with MP for DIPA-Cooperation, member of the Parliamentary Committee on Interior, Marinos Moussioutas.
Mr. Ioannou mentioned, in his statements, that this is a very important issue, "for which we, as the Ministry of Interior and the Parliamentary Committee on Interior, have prioritized the issues that require immediate intervention and regulation."
"With public safety in mind and in order to achieve more effective management of dangerous buildings, at the initiative of Mr. Moussioutas on behalf of the Parliament's Interior Committee, a joint amendment proposal to the existing law was formulated. Examining the existing legislative framework in collaboration with the Associations of Municipalities and Communities and with Provincial Local Government Organizations, weaknesses were identified that cause problems in the more effective implementation of the legislation," he added.
Mr. Ioannou said that the weaknesses identified in the existing legislation allowed the implementation of the provisions only by some Local Authorities and this acted as a deterrent for several cases of Local Authorities, which did not proceed with drastic interventions.
"On the occasion of the transfer of responsibility for dangerous buildings to the EOA, effective from yesterday, a series of legislative changes are being promoted, which essentially tighten the framework for surveillance and enforcement in cases of non-compliance. An important parameter is, at the same time, the transfer of responsibility for removing the danger of the building to the owners, through the introduction of enforcement measures, as a lever of pressure on the owners so that they themselves take measures to restore their building to a safe condition," he noted.
Listing the main changes, the Minister of Interior said that, among other things, the proposed amendments establish simplified procedures for serving notices to owners and provide for the possibility of issuing court orders through unilateral applications (ex parte) for measures. In addition, it provides for the prohibition of the use or rental of a building that is considered dangerous until the danger is removed and provides for the possibility of total or partial demolition of a dangerous building, as well as the interruption of water and electricity supplies.
"Also, the proposed law included provisions for registering a lien (memo) on the affected properties to cover the costs of intervention and for introducing extrajudicial regulation and increasing administrative and criminal fines in cases of non-compliance," he added.
Furthermore, said Mr. Ioannou, through the proposed law, the financial aspect of the issue is resolved by ensuring from the Ministry of Interior additional financial support, which will be granted to the EOAs through the Municipalities, based on a record of the dangerous buildings that exist within the boundaries of each Municipality and according to the planning for their gradual restoration, which must be prepared jointly by the EOAs with the Municipalities.
The Minister of the Interior reiterated that both the Government and the House of Representatives "are responsibly addressing the issue of dangerous buildings and recognize the difficulties that Local Authorities and EOAs have to manage in carrying out their duties."
"This is why, from the beginning, we sought to change the legislation, in a way that strengthens the tools available to the competent Authority, so as to ensure public safety and the maintenance of our country's building stock, while strengthening the economic aspect of the issue," he added.
Mr. Ioannou thanked both Mr. Mousiouttas and the Chairman and the other members of the Parliamentary Committee on Interior for their enormous contribution and constructive attitude, as he said, in the effort to resolve the issue.
Asked whether there is data on dangerous buildings in each District, the Minister of Interior referred to a registration carried out in 2024, noting that based on indicative numbers in the District of Nicosia there are 618, in the District of Limassol 303, in the District of Larnaca 170, in the District of Famagusta 26 and in the District of Paphos 170.
When asked about the cost of removing the hazard, Mr. Ioannou initially clarified that there was a different approach to costing by the 25 competent Authorities.
"I would like to mention, for example, that only five of the 25 competent authorities have taken legal or other measures. Where there was an intention of the competent authority to proceed with legal measures, there was much greater compliance. But even the existing legislation, despite the problems, was not implemented to the extent it should have been," he added.
He pointed out that "with the proposed changes we are strengthening the legislation, we are giving more tools, the tool of demolition, the ability to cut off water and electricity supplies, unilateral rights of intervention, but to address the issue of cost, we have taken some actions."
"A costing of what the indicative cost is has already been carried out. We see that various competent authorities, for example a Municipality to remove the hazard in five apartment buildings, the cost was €2 million. In other cases for dozens of buildings it was a few hundred thousand," he noted.
What was found, said Mr. Ioannou, was the different interpretation of the removal of the risk, and for this reason a list is being prepared on how the risk is interpreted.
"The law states that a budget will be given to the EOAs through the Municipalities. As an indication, I mention that the budget that existed until last year for the Municipality of Nicosia was €160.000 and for the Municipality of Limassol €100.000. This amount will increase to half a million. The EOAs will invoice the Municipalities, that is, what they will take from us and the Municipalities will give to the EOAs," he added.
Mr. Ioannou reiterated the responsibility of the owners and explained that the last resort will be the intervention of the EOA, for the purposes of ensuring public safety.
An effort that began in 2022, said M. Mousiouttas
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Marinos Mousiouttas referred to the effort launched in 2022 by the Ministry and Parliament to resolve the issue of dangerous buildings.
"We discussed it in three sessions of the Interior Committee, but listening to the request of the Minister of Interior that he would like to see the proposal, so that more elements could be included and the issue could be seen in its entirety, we awaited the submission of the relevant bill. In the process, a common understanding was reached with the Ministry that it would be easier and faster to incorporate into the existing proposal what the Minister previously mentioned," he said.
Mr. Mousiouttas also mentioned that the issue of dangerous buildings is an issue that concerns everyone, "because it is one thing to feel safe in a building or when you pass outside a building and another to have - as it happens - the balcony hit you on the head."
"So security, which is paramount for us and for the Ministry, brought us to this result," he noted, and expressed his belief that the competent Parliamentary Committee will soon examine the issue, so that there will be a happy ending.
Mr. Mousiouttas emphasized, finally, that what is mentioned in the proposed law will be activated "if the owner of the building does not comply. It goes without saying that if the owner complies with the instructions, none of what is mentioned will need to be implemented," he said.
Source: KYPE
