The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber has called for stronger legal tools and better monitoring of dangerous buildings, warning that serious incidents can occur at any time if delays continue.
Speaking to CNA on Friday, ETEK President Constantinos Constanti said there are dangerous buildings in Nicosia, although he clarified that this does not mean all of them are buildings that must be demolished. He stressed the need for institutional reinforcement and a more complete record of dangerous structures across Cyprus.
Constanti said a single digital database should be created to record dangerous buildings nationwide, giving the competent authorities a clearer picture and allowing more effective monitoring.
Such a platform, he added, would also strengthen transparency and improve public awareness about the existence of dangerous buildings.
Under the existing framework, when a building is deemed dangerous, the competent authority must notify the owner to take corrective measures. If the owner fails to comply, the authorities may intervene directly, with the cost borne by the owner and recoverable through legal action.
Constanti said legislative tools also need to be strengthened, noting that a relevant bill has already been submitted to parliament. The bill provides, among other measures, for a ban on renting out dangerous buildings, the suspension of water and electricity supply, and the registration of an encumbrance on the property title in cases where the owner fails to act within the specified timeframe to remove the danger.
He also underlined the importance of introducing regular building inspections, so that deterioration can be identified before it becomes dangerous. ETEK, he said, has submitted a proposal on the issue for years, while a corresponding bill has also been tabled in parliament.
Responsibility for dangerous buildings has now been transferred to the District Local Government Organisations, whereas in the past it rested with local authorities, namely municipalities and district administrations.
Asked whether there is concern that a serious incident could occur if procedures are not accelerated, Constanti said the risk remains real. “This concern has existed for years, since such an incident can happen at any time,” he said, recalling the recent tragedy in Germasogeia, where the collapse of an apartment building claimed two lives.
He said this was precisely why ETEK had long warned of the need to institutionalise regular building inspections.
Constanti also referred to jointly owned buildings, where disagreements among co-owners often delay or prevent necessary repairs. In several cases, he said, some co-owners do not consent to measures aimed at removing danger or repairing the building. For this reason, he added, the bill on jointly owned buildings should be passed immediately, as it provides, among other things, for the creation of a reserve fund for maintenance works.
Until the required institutional changes are implemented, Constanti said the existing legal framework must be used to its full extent. He also stressed the need for a change in mentality among owners, so that buildings are maintained in time and public safety is not put at risk.
“As owners, we have a responsibility to keep our buildings in a condition that does not endanger users or passers-by. At the same time, the state and competent authorities must be able to intervene effectively wherever indifference and negligence are observed on the part of owners,” he said.
