In Cyprus, no seizures or evictions from homes in refugee settlements have been carried out after the intervention of the Parliamentary Committee on Refugee Affairs. This was stated by the committee’s chairman and MP from the Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus, Nikos Kettirros.
According to him, credit-acquiring companies heeded the recommendations of Parliament and did not proceed with the sale or alienation of primary residences from this category of citizens. The committee expressed satisfaction that the instructions had been followed; however, one issue still remains open and requires additional regulation.
Problem with houses in self-build areas
Difficulties arose with regard to houses located in so-called self-build settlements. As Kettirros explained, credit companies lack precise data that would allow them to clearly identify such properties. This creates uncertainty for borrowers who are not sure whether the existing protection applies to them.
During the meeting, the president of the Association of Credit Acquiring Companies, Anthi Exadaktylou, reported that the portfolios of such companies currently contain only 14 properties located in refugee settlements, while another 320 cases are managed by the state company KEDIPES.
Higher figures had previously been announced, which were revised after data reconciliation with the Land Registry. According to representatives of the sector, cases were reviewed with particular caution, however the absence of a complete database of properties in refugee settlements remains a systemic problem.
What borrowers should do and how the protection works
MPs emphasized that citizens who receive letters from credit companies should immediately contact them and notify them that their housing is located in a refugee settlement. This is necessary to initiate a settlement procedure and suspend possible recovery actions.
Financial Commissioner Valentina Georgiadou reported that her office has already intervened in at least three cases, achieving the effective suspension of procedures. She noted that the companies demonstrated respect for the position of the Parliamentary Committee and called for similar sensitivity toward other categories of borrowers.
Special attention was given to the Mortgage to Rent program, which provides temporary protection while an application is being reviewed. A representative of the Central Bank of Cyprus reported that more than 500 applications have been approved, and about one thousand more are under consideration. Until a final decision on the application is made, auctions will not be conducted.
Political position and social aspect
Another MP, Rita Theodorou Superman, stated that protection should extend to all refugees who are in a vulnerable group. She spoke against policies that could push people toward using compensation mechanisms related to property in the north of the island, including the Immovable Property Commission.
Representatives of other parties also emphasized that the issue requires broader consideration, including with respect to refugees who built housing outside official settlements.
AKEL MP Christos Christofides called housing seizures a serious social problem. According to him, for people who have already experienced the loss of their homes in the past, the risk of losing housing again means the threat of a second forced displacement.
Prospects and next steps
In conclusion, Nikos Kettirros reported that official written data have been requested from the Central Bank to eliminate confusion and ensure transparency. The main goal is to guarantee the protection of refugees’ primary housing and prevent any cases of unjustified evictions. The situation remains under parliamentary oversight, and the authorities assure that social stability and protection of vulnerable groups remain priorities of Cyprus’s state policy.