On Thursday, June 26, the Cyprus Parliament concluded its discussion of the draft of the new rules for managing and distributing property owned by Turkish Cypriots.
The final vote is expected to take place during the plenary session on July 10. If delayed, consideration will be postponed until September, after the summer parliamentary recess ends.
These innovations aim to establish a more equitable, transparent, and objective system for Greek Cypriots who are currently using this property. Currently, the Ministry of the Interior officially holds Turkish Cypriot property and acts as its custodian. This mechanism is a temporary solution until a political settlement of the Cyprus conflict is reached.
One of the most significant changes to the use of such properties concerns the level of rent. According to AKEL MP Nicos Kettiros, the rent was initially set at 80% of the market value. During the discussions, it was first reduced to 75%, and then fixed at 60% in the final version of the document. This decision aims to ease the financial burden on tenants and eliminate existing inequalities.
A uniform lease term of seven years is also being introduced. Provided that all contractual obligations are fulfilled in good faith, tenants will be able to renew the agreement for a similar period. This creates a clear, stable framework for property users and, according to lawmakers, will reduce complaints about arbitrary decisions and double standards.
Another key component of the new policy is the regular publication of information on available properties, including commercial spaces, residential buildings, and agricultural land.
Updated data, including rental rates, will be posted every three months to ensure equal access to information for all applicants. Humanitarian provisions are also included: if a displaced Greek Cypriot used a property for business purposes, such as a hairdressing salon, shop, kiosk, or workshop, and subsequently lost the ability to work due to health reasons, they can transfer their permit to use the premises to another refugee. The term of such a transfer will be limited to five years.
The new regulatory framework was developed amid ongoing political differences between the two communities on the island. The distribution and use of property abandoned by Turkish Cypriots as a result of the 1974 events remains a sensitive legal and humanitarian issue.
Nevertheless, Parliament's actions aim to balance the interests of all parties, ensuring respect for the property rights of Turkish Cypriots and guaranteeing that displaced Greek Cypriots can use this property fairly and legally.