The Interior Ministry is moving ahead with a new scheme offering state-owned residential plots to eligible families at 25% of their market value, with more than 570 plots expected to become available in the first phase.
The scheme is aimed at helping younger and low- to middle-income families acquire land and build their own homes, while also making use of available state land across Cyprus.
More than 570 existing and currently unallocated state plots created through previous land divisions will initially be offered across all districts. The scheme also provides for the creation of additional plots by subdividing state land in communities that express an interest in participating.
Ioannou: Scheme has two objectives
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said the government aims to expand housing options and use available state land for the benefit of society, particularly young families.
According to Ioannou, the scheme has two main objectives.
The first is to support families experiencing difficulties in acquiring their own home. The second is to strengthen and revitalise rural communities, particularly those in mountainous, remote and disadvantaged areas.
Who is eligible
The scheme applies to communities across all districts, including the 63 communities incorporated into municipalities.
Eligible applicants must be Cypriot citizens and fall into one of the following categories:
- Couples with children.
- Couples without children.
- Single-parent families.
For couples, at least one member must be under the age of 45 when the application is submitted.
At least one member of a couple must also be permanently resident in the community where the plots are located or in a neighbouring community no more than 15 kilometres away.
Income limits
Eligibility is also subject to annual gross household income thresholds.
These are:
- €45,000 for a couple or single-parent family.
- €50,000 for a three-person household.
- €55,000 for a four-person household.
- €65,000 for households of five or more people.
Priority system
Plots will be allocated according to a defined order of priority.
Priority will first be given to people originating from the community who permanently reside there, followed by displaced people permanently living in the community.
The scheme will then prioritise people who have moved elsewhere within Cyprus and wish to return to their community, as well as repatriated Cypriots or Cypriots living abroad who meet the scheme's specific requirements.
Permanent residents of neighbouring communities located within 15 kilometres will follow.
Where applicants have equal priority, preference will be given in the following order:
- Large families.
- Other families.
- Single-parent families.
- Couples.
Homes must be completed within three years
Successful applicants will be required to complete construction of their home within three years of signing the plot allocation agreement.
The plot cannot be transferred to another person before construction of the home is completed.
The completed property also cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of until five years after its completion.
Focus on rural communities
For new subdivisions of state land, particular emphasis will be placed on mountainous, remote and disadvantaged communities.
The process will begin with interested communities submitting requests to their respective District Administrations.
The government hopes the measure will both address housing affordability and encourage younger families to live in communities facing demographic and economic challenges.
Announcements concerning the available plots, together with the information required to submit applications, will be published by the relevant District Administrations.
Further information and the detailed guide to the scheme will also be available through the Interior Ministry's website.
