Bill could legalise 30,000 ‘illegal’ buildings

A BILL legalising irregularly built houses and apartments will pave the way for the issuing of thousands of title deeds that have been on hold for decades,
The planned amendment defines and extends derogations from town planning regulations, the aim being to ‘legalise’ the thousands of residences that fall into this category.

According to one estimate, some 30,000 households will benefit from the proposed changes. More importantly, the government expects to rake in some £200 million from the issuing of title deeds and other related services.

The bill has been drafted by DISY deputies Demetris Syllouris and Maria Kyriacou; the final document is expected to be presented to the House Interior Committee some time over the next few days.

A widespread problem — in the government’s eyes, at least — is that people build or make additions on their property that exceed the space allowed. Essentially, the amended law will permit people to have these irregularities ‘approved’, provided certain conditions are met.

For example, if the floor space ratio has been exceeded by less than three per cent (or less than 50 square meters, whichever is smaller) then it will be possible to apply with the Town Planning Department for approval.

Another glitch is that individual apartment owners have been deprived of their title deeds for years because of minor construction irregularities with the building bloc. It goes without saying that people falling in this category cannot currently transfer their property to relatives or children.

According to the bill, owners of ‘illegal’ property are forced to demolish any additions/extensions that intrude on neighbouring property and/or pay the affected neighbour some compensation.

The current amendment applies to buildings or property for which construction licences were issued after December 1990; a future bill is planned for ‘problematic’ property registered after that date.

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