Newsroom / CNA
The Limassol Municipality has issued warnings to 400 buildings for necessary repairs, with 130 of them officially declared dangerous. This announcement follows a recent incident in the Neapolis area where pieces of a fourth-floor balcony parapet fell to the ground.
In a statement, the Municipality detailed its immediate response to the incident, which included collaboration with the Police and Fire Service to secure the area and protect residents and passersby. Municipal engineers conducted an on-site inspection to identify the cause of the collapse and issued instructions to mitigate further risks.
“It should be noted,” the statement stressed, “that this building had previously been inspected, and warning letters had been sent to all property owners and the Management Committee, urging immediate repairs and maintenance.”
The Municipality also announced its intention to address the issue with all relevant stakeholders, including the EOA, the Ministry of Interior, and political parties, to find a long-term solution to the problem.
Widespread Concerns Over Building Safety
Recent inspections have revealed significant concerns about building safety across the city. Over 400 buildings, including houses, apartment complexes, and commercial properties, have received repair notices. Of these, 130 have been deemed dangerous by the municipal council. According to municipal data, 15 percent of property owners have already initiated repairs, 25 percent have indicated plans to address the issues, but 60 percent have yet to respond.
The Municipality’s actions are based on the Law on Roads and Buildings, which empowers local authorities to take measures to eliminate hazards. Under these provisions, the Municipality is authorized to enter and, if necessary, evacuate dangerous buildings to address safety concerns. When the Municipality undertakes repair work, the associated costs, including administrative fees, are passed on to the property owners. If owners fail to comply, legal measures, such as property liens, are employed to recover the costs.
Additionally, the law allows the Municipality to impose administrative fines of up to €20,000 and daily penalties of €200 on property owners who neglect repair orders. Despite these powers, the Municipality has so far refrained from enforcing penalties, aiming instead to give property owners time to comply voluntarily.
The growing scale of the issue, however, has raised serious public safety concerns. The Municipality indicated that the matter would soon be reviewed by the City Council, which is expected to recommend stricter enforcement measures, including the imposition of fines and legal actions against non-compliant property owners.
In its statement, the Municipality emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms to address the root causes of the problem. One proposed solution is the introduction of a "Certificate of Suitability" to ensure that buildings meet safety standards. Additionally, the Municipality advocates for the formal establishment of management committees as legal entities, tasked with addressing building maintenance issues. It also stressed the importance of developing efficient mechanisms to recover repair costs from property owners to prevent delays in addressing hazards.
The Limassol Municipality has previously pushed for legislative updates to give local authorities stronger tools for managing building safety. However, it insists that the legal framework must encourage a culture of safety, making public welfare a shared priority for citizens and authorities alike.
“The legislation should ensure that safety is prioritized across the board,” the statement concluded, “so that hazards are addressed before they escalate, sparing the need for enforcement or punitive measures.”
