The register of the Limassol District Local Government Organisation (EOA) currently includes around 1,100 potentially dangerous buildings. Many of them are apartment blocks where families continue to live. Authorities warn that the issue of building safety in Limassol is closely linked to the shortage of affordable housing.
Interestingly, as recently as June the EOA reported around 1,000 such properties. This means that the list has grown by approximately 100 buildings in just a few months. Apartment buildings where units remain occupied present a particular challenge. If a technical inspection determines that a building is dangerous, residents may need to be temporarily evacuated while repairs are carried out or other urgent safety measures are taken. Finding alternative accommodation in Limassol is not easy. High rental costs and the limited supply of affordable apartments mean that the problem of dangerous buildings cannot be addressed through technical inspections alone.
EOA has already inspected hundreds of buildings
To assess the properties, the EOA referred 370 cases to private civil engineers who are members of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK). Around 300 inspections have already been completed, while the EOA has carried out its own evaluation of the technical reports for 150–160 properties. If specialists identify a serious threat, a building may be officially declared dangerous. In that case, the owner is required to take the necessary measures to address the identified problems. On September 23, 2026, ETEK separately reported that lists of dangerous buildings had been published on the websites of district local government organisations across Cyprus, including Limassol.
What powers the EOA needs
According to Tsouloftas, existing legislation limits the EOA’s ability to respond quickly to the problem. He believes that three separate pieces of legislation are needed:
- legislation on dangerous buildings;
- legislation on jointly owned buildings and the operation of management committees;
- legislation on regular technical inspections of buildings.
The final measure is particularly important for prevention. Regular inspections make it possible to identify structural deterioration and other serious defects before a building reaches a critical condition.
Building safety has also been discussed at the level of the Cyprus Ministry of the Interior. In April 2026, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou held a meeting with ETEK to discuss additional measures and tools for the EOAs in dealing with dangerous buildings.
The problem cannot be solved without powers, staff and funding
Tsouloftas also stresses that transferring new responsibilities to the district organisations must be accompanied by the necessary powers, personnel and funding. Otherwise, he says, responsibility for the problem will simply shift from one public authority to another without actually eliminating dangerous properties.
At the same time, the problem of dangerous buildings in Limassol goes beyond construction control. In the case of apartment buildings, issues of repairs, owners’ responsibility, the operation of management committees and temporary accommodation for residents must all be addressed if a building has to be vacated.
Legislative changes related to building safety and supervision are already under discussion. In 2026, the Ministry of the Interior, together with ETEK, prepared a bill providing, among other things, additional procedures for assessing the condition of buildings and confirming their compliance with safety requirements.