Access to affordable housing is a fundamental prerequisite for social cohesion and the well-being of citizens. To this end, the Government is implementing a series of housing measures aimed at creating more, higher-quality, and more affordable housing options for citizens.
In this context, the Ministry of the Interior is moving forward with the implementation of the new Plan for the Allocation of Plots of Land to Families based on income criteria, in communities throughout Cyprus.
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The plots will be made available at 25% of their market value, creating a real opportunity for new and low- or middle-income families to acquire land and build their own homes for owner-occupancy.
In the immediate future, more than 570 existing, unallocated state-owned plots—which resulted from previous subdivisions—will be made available to eligible recipients in all districts. At the same time, the Plan provides for the creation of new plots through the subdivision of state-owned land in communities that express interest in participating in the Plan.
In a video statement, Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou noted that, through the Plan, the government aims to expand housing options while utilizing available state-owned land for the benefit of society and, in particular, young families. According to Mr. Ioannou, the Plan has a twofold objective: on the one hand, it supports families facing difficulties in acquiring home ownership, and on the other, it helps strengthen and revitalize rural communities, particularly in mountainous, remote, and disadvantaged areas.
Key provisions of the Plan:
- Plots of land are made available at 25% of their market value.
- The Program applies only to communities in all districts, including the 63 communities that have been incorporated into municipalities.
- Eligible applicants for the Program are Cypriot citizens who are couples with or without children and single-parent families.
- At least one of the two members of the couple must be under 45 years of age at the time of application.
- At least one member of the couple must be a permanent resident of the community where the plots of land are located or of a neighboring community within a distance of 15 km or less.
- The annual gross family income must not exceed the specified limits, as follows:
- Couple or single-parent family: up to €45,000
- Family of 3: up to €50,000
- Family of 4: up to €55,000
- Family of 5 or more: up to €65,000
- Plots of land will be allocated on a priority basis, as follows:
- Native residents of the community who reside there permanently
- Displaced persons who reside permanently in the community
- Internal migrants who wish to return to the community
- Repatriates or expatriates from abroad who meet the specific requirements
- Permanent residents of neighboring communities, located at a distance of 15 km or less from the boundaries of the community where the plots are located
- In the event of a tie, priority will be given, in the following order, to large families, families with fewer than three children, single-parent families, and couples.
- Beneficiaries are required to complete construction of the residence within three years of signing the relevant agreement for the transfer of the state-owned plot.
- The transfer of the plot is not permitted before the residence is completed, and the sale or disposal of the residence is not permitted until five years have elapsed from the date of its completion.
Procedure for new land subdivisions in communities that have expressed interest:
With regard to new subdivisions of state-owned land in communities that have expressed or will express interest, particular emphasis will be placed on mountainous, remote, and disadvantaged areas.
The process begins with communities expressing interest and submitting the relevant requests to the respective District Administrations, which then proceed to evaluate and review the proposed plots in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
For available plots, the application process will be publicized by the relevant District Administrations through announcements and the publication of the necessary information and forms.
Further information and the detailed guide to the Plan are available on the Ministry of the Interior’s website.
