Residents of the fire-stricken mountain communities of Limassol are reporting a new layer of hardship. Individuals whose homes were destroyed in the summer’s deadly wildfires have begun receiving community tax notices, on the grounds that Cabinet decisions to waive fees apply only to permanent residents and not to holiday-home owners.
The issue has escalated in recent days as communities adopt different approaches to taxation, creating a patchwork of decisions that has left affected homeowners feeling unprotected and unfairly treated.
Following questions from Politis, the Commissioner for Mountain Communities, Charalambos Christofinas, confirmed that he is aware of the situation and is already in communication with community councils to ensure a uniform solution. He stressed that no one whose home has been destroyed will be taxed and noted that instructions were issued from the outset for communities to handle such cases with care. He also disclosed that a proposal is being prepared for the Cabinet to grant extensions to the legalisation of unlicensed structures, due to delays at the Limassol District Office.
A first flashpoint emerged in the community of Mallia, where waste and community-service fees were issued to non-permanent residents whose Turkish Cypriot-owned holiday houses were completely destroyed. The community initially applied the guidance it had received: that only permanent residents would be exempt from fees, which would be covered by the state. After complaints, the council revised its decision, issuing fees with a 50 percent reduction on the grounds that services had been provided during the first half of 2025, before the fires.
In Mallia, the issue involves seven non-permanent residents in total, amounting to roughly €350. Despite the small financial value, many felt deeply wronged, since permanent residents whose properties were not destroyed were exempted entirely while those who lost their homes were still being billed. Across all affected communities, 51 holiday homes fall under this category, with the amounts described as negligible but symbolically important.
Disputes over water charges
Similar inconsistencies have surfaced regarding water charges. In Mallia and other villages, residents are disputing bills they say are unusually high compared with previous years. They argue that increased consumption reflects water used for firefighting rather than household use.
A final decision is expected in the coming days on whether communities will be financially supported to absorb these charges. Several community councils have already adopted a more flexible approach, examining each case and waiving water fees entirely when additional consumption is linked to firefighting operations, regardless of whether the resident is permanent or not.
Repairs to Turkish Cypriot properties expected in early 2026
There has also been concern about the lack of visible progress on repairs to Turkish Cypriot-owned homes that were damaged or destroyed. According to the commissioner, work by the Turkish Cypriot Properties Management Service will begin in early 2026. In some cases, structures will be repaired, while in others complete reconstruction will take place, based on the original architectural specifications.