The government is considering expanding its new housing schemes to include single applicants, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has said, as authorities prepare to launch initiatives aimed at increasing home ownership and revitalising communities.
Speaking on the programme Morning Briefing, Ioannou outlined two new housing schemes, including the disposal of approximately 570 state-owned plots at 25% of their market value and incentives allowing additional residential floors to be built on existing homes under certain conditions.
570 state plots in first phase
The first scheme targets low- and middle-income households capable of building a home.
State land will be made available at 25% of its value, down from the 35% charged under a previous programme.
According to the minister, the scheme can be implemented in any community where state land is available and there are at least ten eligible applicants.
Around 570 subdivided plots have already been identified across approximately 25 communities, including:
- Xylotymbou
- Frenaros
- Mammari
- Lympia
- Alaminos
Applicants will have two months to submit applications once the available plots are published. Where demand exceeds supply, allocations will be determined through a lottery system, with waiting lists established.
Eligibility criteria
Priority will be given to:
- Families with children.
- Couples without children.
- Single-parent families.
Applicants must be under the age of 45 and either reside in the community concerned or in another community within a 15-kilometre radius.
Beneficiaries will be required to complete construction within three years or return the plot to the state.
Single applicants under consideration
Ioannou acknowledged that the scheme currently applies to families and couples rather than unmarried individuals.
However, he said the issue is being reviewed, noting that some people live together without being married and that their circumstances should be examined.
Lower construction costs
The Interior Ministry is also examining ways to reduce building costs.
Among the options under consideration are:
- Prefabricated homes.
- Standardised housing plans.
The plans are being prepared by the Department of Town Planning and Housing and will be provided free of charge to eligible applicants.
Additional floor scheme
The second scheme applies to existing homes across Cyprus and will allow an additional residential floor to be constructed even where building-density limits have already been reached.
The extra dwelling may be up to:
- 150 square metres, or
- 180 square metres in certain cases.
The measure is intended to meet the housing needs of children, grandchildren and first-degree relatives.
Restrictions apply
The scheme will not apply to:
- Apartment buildings.
- Listed buildings.
- Special-character areas.
- Natura-protected zones.
- Properties outside development boundaries.
Applicants will also need to demonstrate that the existing building has sufficient structural capacity.
The additional dwelling cannot be sold or used for another purpose for a period of 10 years.
Supporting communities
Ioannou said both schemes are designed to address housing needs while encouraging people to remain in rural communities and suburban areas.
He added that the initiatives can be combined with other housing assistance programmes, including support available to refugees and residents of border communities.
Applications for the additional-floor scheme are expected to open through the District Local Government Organisations following publication of the programme in the coming weeks.
