Public plots in Cyprus for 25 percent of the value. Who will benefit?

More than 570 state-owned plots will be made available to families wishing to build their own homes. The land will be priced at just 25 percent of its market value. However, the program will be available only to Cypriot citizens who meet age, income, and residency criteria.

The plots are located in various districts, primarily in rural, mountainous, and remote communities. The state will not finance the construction of the house. Those eligible for the program will be responsible for covering the costs of the design, permits, utilities, and construction work themselves. They will be given three years to complete the house.

State-owned plots in Cyprus at a quarter of their value

In the first phase of the program, the Ministry of Interior intends to make available over 570 existing and previously unused state-owned plots. These plots were created through previous land divisions and are located in all districts of the Republic of Cyprus.

The program is not expected to end with the initial 570 plots. The Ministry plans to create additional plots by dividing state-owned land among communities that express interest in participating in the project.

The price of the plot is to be 25 percent of the market value. Therefore, if the land is valued at €100,000, the eligible family will pay €25,000 for it.

The program aims to make it easier for low- and middle-income families to build their own homes. At the same time, the authorities want to attract residents to smaller towns and strengthen mountain communities, remote communities, and those considered disadvantaged.

Who will be able to receive a plot of land?

The program only applies to citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. Permanent residency, a yellow slip, or long-term residence on the island are not sufficient to submit an application.

The following persons will be able to apply for a plot:

• married couples and couples with children,
• married couples and couples without children,
• single-parent families.

In the case of couples, at least one person must be under 45 years of age on the date of application.

At least one family member must be a permanent resident of the town where the plot is located or a neighboring community located no further than 15 kilometers away.

The program will be implemented exclusively in local communities across all districts. It also covers 63 communities that were incorporated into larger municipalities as a result of local government reform.

Yellow slip is not enough

The program is intended for Cypriot citizens, not all individuals legally residing in the country. This means that Polish citizens with a yellow slip or permanent residence permit will not be eligible to apply for one of the plots unless they also hold Cypriot citizenship.

The Yellow Slip confirms the legal registration of residence of a European Union citizen. However, it is not a document confirming citizenship and does not provide all the rights reserved for citizens of the country.

Who will get priority?

If multiple families are interested in a single plot, allocation will not be based solely on the order in which applications are received. The Ministry has identified groups that will receive priority consideration.

People who are from a given town and permanently reside there will be given the highest priority. Applications from internally displaced persons living in that community will be considered next.

Next up will be:

• people who have moved to another part of Cyprus and want to return to their hometown,
• repatriates and people returning from abroad,
• permanent residents of neighboring communities located within a 15-kilometer radius.

If several applications receive the same score, priority will be given to large families, other families with children, single-parent families, and then couples.

The house must be built within three years

Obtaining a plot of land will come with specific obligations. The house must be completed within three years of signing the land grant agreement.

The plot cannot be transferred to another person before construction is completed. However, the completed house cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of for five years after its completion.

The restrictions are intended to prevent the program from being used to quickly resell land or real estate for profit. The project is intended to help families meet their own housing needs, not serve as an investment.

When will applications begin?

A single nationwide application start date has not yet been announced. For the more than 570 existing plots, deadlines, forms, and application procedures are to be published by the relevant district administrations.

In the case of new divisions of public land, the first step will be for the community to express its interest. The administration will then evaluate the proposed land and begin the plot preparation process.

Those interested in the program should therefore monitor announcements from their district administration and local authorities. Only the publication of the list of plots will reveal which locations will be eligible for the program.

Sources: Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus; Politis.