Eviction threat for illegal occupation of Turkish Cypriot properties

PEOPLE using Turkish Cypriot property without permission could be evicted if new legislation is approved by the House in a week’s time.

The House Refugee Committee yesterday concluded discussion of a bill, which introduces new provisions for the management of Turkish Cypriot property, abandoned after the 1974 Turkish invasion.

The Guardian of Turkish Cypriot Properties manages the properties, though legal loopholes have resulted in disputes and illegalities.

“The basic aim is to change the legislation so that illegalities are stamped out and Turkish Cypriot properties come under the full control of the Guardian,” committee chairman Aristofanis Georghiou said after the closed-doors meeting.

Georghiou said the legislation plugged all the loopholes that had previously allowed anyone to gain access to the properties, which should have been used only by refugees for professional or residential purposes.

Anyone possessing Turkish Cypriot property without the permission of the Guardian should return it or face the legal consequences.

The new law will prohibit the sale of Turkish Cypriot properties: “the Guardian takes over the property and when the Cyprus problem is resolved it is handed back to its legal owners in the state it had been received”.

Concerning rent paid for the use of these properties, he said refugees would not be made to pay any rent on the houses they occupied, in accordance with the current practice.

Rent on agricultural land would be charged solely on the person possessing it, while dwellings used for business purposes by non-refugees would be charged rent in line with current market prices.

Georghiou said the committee had agreed to the amendments, which are expected to be discussed by the plenum next Thursday, April 17.

Regarding the numerous scams involving Turkish Cypriot properties, Georghiou said the committee’s report was expected to be ready soon for discussion by the plenum.

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