Plans by the Cypriot government for a major reform of joint ownership building management are facing serious resistance from five District Local Government Organizations (EOA). Recently, representatives of these authorities stated that they are not ready to assume new responsibilities for the registration and oversight of management committees in such buildings.
According to them, the proposed duties exceed their authority and require substantial staffing, technical, and financial resources. The EOAs stressed that the Ministry of Interior drafted the bill without adequate consultation with those who would be responsible for its implementation.
The Essence of the Bill
The bill, titled “Management of Buildings in Joint Ownership and Related Matters”, proposed in 2023, aims to address long-standing issues in multi-apartment and multifunctional buildings — from lack of maintenance to safety threats for residents. The legislation mandates technical inspections of structures, engineering, and electrical systems to be carried out by accredited specialists from the Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK).
In recent years, the absence of such inspections has led to balcony collapses, cracks in load-bearing walls, and other hazardous incidents posing risks to life. The new law will require management committees to establish reserve funds for maintenance and repairs, and apartment owners will be obligated to pay common expenses — including cleaning, heating, elevators, electricity, water, and insurance. Real estate sales will be prohibited until all communal and public charges are fully paid.
Responsibility and Funding Issues
Under the government plan, EOAs would not only register management committees but also maintain a national registry of such buildings, resolve disputes between residents, impose fines, and monitor financial compliance. However, representatives argue that this is impossible without dedicated software, additional funding, and trained staff.
“It is impossible to assign new responsibilities without proper structure, budget, and personnel,” the EOAs stated.
Moreover, they claim that the proposed administrative fees would not even cover basic operational costs.
Experience and Challenges
Since April 2025, EOAs have already been monitoring dangerous and unsafe buildings, but they have yet to receive clear instructions or adequate funding to carry out this function. They are therefore asking the government to strengthen existing structures, including building licensing and oversight, before imposing additional duties.
Key Weakness of the Bill — Payment of Common Expenses
While the bill introduces many positive innovations, experts point to a critical flaw: the absence of a clear mechanism for collecting common payments from owners. Without guaranteed access to funds, management committees cannot ensure building insurance, carry out repairs, or maintain infrastructure.
If the system does not provide fast and legal debt collection methods, committees will be unable to fulfill their duties, leading once again to accumulated problems and deterioration of the housing stock.
Next Steps
Discussions on the bill are expected to continue through the end of 2025. The Ministry of Interior is preparing proposals for the implementation of an electronic platform for building registration and digital tools for interaction between residents and management committees. These measures aim to increase transparency, simplify administration, and reduce bureaucracy.