As of Thursday, September 26, it has been confirmed that municipalities will continue to oversee hazardous buildings until the end of March 2025. This decision follows the passing of a last-minute law by parliament, which stemmed from a legislative proposal put forth by MPs, as the government opted not to present its own draft.
Initially, the responsibility for dangerous buildings was set to be handed over to the EOAs (new district-level organizations established as part of local government reforms) starting on October 1, just days away. However, the EOAs expressed concerns about their readiness, citing insufficient funding and a lack of technical expertise necessary to manage the complexities of building safety and demolition, which can be quite costly.
Under existing laws, the EOAs are required to be self-financing, which prohibits them from receiving funds from the central government. In contrast, while the central government can allocate funds to municipalities, this option is not available for the EOAs.
Given these circumstances, MPs decided to extend the municipalities’ authority over hazardous buildings for an additional six months, until March 31, 2025. However, they cautioned that this extension would be the last. By April 1, 2025, the EOAs must be adequately prepared to take on this responsibility.
There are five EOAs in total, one for each district: Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, and Famagusta. Each organization is tasked with urban planning, sewerage, water supply, and solid waste management services.
Source: Cyprus Mail