At a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees, members suddenly discovered that rental contracts for Turkish Cypriot properties include the names of people who died long ago — individuals who today would be around 150 years old.
By the evening, the Ministry of the Interior, which is responsible for managing such properties, firmly rejected the accusations. The ministry stressed that it conducts automated annual checks that make it impossible for properties to remain registered under deceased persons.
How tenant checks are carried out
The verification process begins at the end of each calendar year through the Centralized State Data Archive. The system identifies everyone who has died during the year, after which the information is cross-referenced with the databases of the service managing Turkish Cypriot properties. If it is confirmed that a tenant has died, the contract is automatically cancelled as of the date of death, and the house or land is allocated to another applicant who meets specific criteria.
Debate over access to Turkish Cypriot properties
Who exactly has the right to rent property abandoned after the events of 1974 remains a frequent topic of parliamentary discussion. The committee chairman, AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros, said that updating the legislation will help expose the system’s weaknesses and correct them. He noted that the management of these assets is still largely paper-based and urgently needs digitalization.
Plans for full digitalization
According to Kettiros, attempts to digitize the system have been ongoing for three years, but only recently received the necessary funding. He expressed hope that a tender will be announced in the first months of the new year, which will accelerate the launch of a modern electronic platform. The new mechanism should ensure transparency, easy submission of applications, and protection against abuse.
New bill to support tenants
Kettiros also reported that his party has submitted a bill that would allow citizens renting Turkish Cypriot properties to obtain subsidized interest rates on mortgages. The proposed reform has received positive feedback, and after article-by-article review, the bill is being prepared for consideration at a plenary session.
National fund for compensating displaced owners
The issue of creating a new national fund to compensate Greek Cypriots who lost their homes after the events of 1974 was already discussed in September. The DISY party’s initiative proposes a mechanism to reimburse individuals who lost access to their property. Kettiros urged Parliament to speed up the process and make a decision as soon as possible so that those affected can receive real support.