The police and the Larnaca District Local Government Organization have confirmed serious issues concerning a specific apartment complex in Larnaca, following the management committee’s public disclosure of the matter. The two authorities refer to complaints regarding tampering with water and electricity meters, issues of illegal occupation or rental of apartments, as well as issues related to sanitation and unsafe buildings, emphasizing the need for coordinated action to resolve these problems.
From time to time, complaints are filed with the police regarding the apartment complex, either by the management committee or by apartment owners, according to Spyros Chrysostomou, spokesperson for the Larnaca Police Directorate.
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Speaking to CNA, Mr. Chrysostomou stated that the complaints being investigated by the police concern tampering with water or electricity meters.
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At the same time, he noted that the police are conducting campaigns regarding illegal residency in the Republic. The most recent one, he said, occurred when three people jumped from the third floor, resulting in one person suffering a serious head injury and losing his life.
Mr. Chrysostomou also noted that the police recently visited the area together with the Larnaca Environmental Protection Agency and the Municipality of Larnaca, where, as he said, very serious sanitation issues and other problems were identified, describing the situation as “chaos.”
He added that they had also visited the area together with the Cyprus Electricity Authority (AHK), noting that he believes a comprehensive solution is needed to put an end to this situation.
For his part, the President of the Larnaca EOA, Angelos Hatzicharalambous, told CNA that these are issues that have been repeatedly documented at this complex.
As he noted, the Larnaca EOA has taken steps, in accordance with its authority, to address issues related to hazardous buildings.
According to Mr. Hatzicharalambous, as has been reported in the media, the management committee has commissioned a private engineer to carry out all the work that is planned or necessary.
The Larnaca Housing Authority, he added, is in contact with the management committee and is awaiting an update regarding all these actions, which will address the safety hazards.
Regarding issues of illegal occupation or illegal rental of apartments, electricity theft, as well as matters concerning access or the blocking of access, the President of the Larnaca EOA made it clear that these matters do not fall under the Organization’s jurisdiction.
As he stated, these issues should be examined by all relevant authorities, which should address the matter immediately and with the utmost seriousness, with the aim of resolving it.
Regarding water theft, Mr. Hatzicharalambous noted that the EOA has documented all instances of water theft and has addressed these issues in previous campaigns.
However, as he noted, the problem persists, a new campaign will need to be carried out to determine whether tenants are diverting water and to investigate and resolve these issues immediately.
He also noted that crews will visit the site to determine whether water is being diverted and, if so, how.
The initial assessment, according to the President of the Larnaca Water Authority, is that the water thefts are being committed by private individuals against other private individuals. As he clarified, this does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Larnaca Water Authority, but rather that of the police, to whom a complaint should be filed.
Mr. Hatzicharalambous also addressed issues of illegal possession, illegal use or illegal rental of properties, the number of people residing in the apartments—which may exceed the permitted limit—as well as issues of public nuisance.
As he said, there are competent authorities that should examine these specific issues and work together to take the necessary actions to resolve all existing problems.
In conclusion, he noted that whether it is the Cyprus Police, the Land Registry, the local authority—the Municipality of Larnaca—or the Larnaca Port Authority, each entity, within the scope of its jurisdiction, must examine all these issues in order to provide a definitive solution to the long-standing problems arising at this particular complex.
Source: CNA
*File photo
