Press Release
Regarding the support and payment of financial aid to citizens affected by the fires in communities of the Limassol District, and following the announcement of the President of the Republic last Sunday, the Council of Ministers decided today on the following measures.
The affected communities are: Omodos, Arsos, Koilani, Vasa Koilaniou, Vouni, Sylikou, Mallia, Laneia, Lofou, Agios Therapon, Agios Ambrosios, Kissousa, Pachna, Kato Kivides, Pano Kivides, Souni-Zanakia, Alassa, Monagri, Pera Pedi, Kouka, Potamiou, Sotira, and Ypsonas.
Measure 1: One-off payment
A one-off payment will be granted to cover basic needs for families whose permanent residence has suffered partial or total destruction. Owners of holiday homes are not eligible.
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Total destruction: €10,000 per family plus €2,000 per dependent child.
Example: a family with three dependent children will receive €16,000. -
Partial destruction: €5,000 per family plus €1,000 per dependent child.
Example: a family with two dependent children will receive €7,000.
Eligibility is determined by occupancy status (owner and/or tenant), not ownership status.
Payments will be made via bank transfer to the account provided with the Authorization Form for payments from the General Accounting Office’s FIMAS system. Authorization Forms have been sent to the Community Councils of the affected communities. The signed form along with the IBAN certificate must be emailed to fimas@treasury.gov.cy.
Measure 2: Rent subsidy
To ensure housing for affected families during the repair or reconstruction period, rent subsidies will be provided based on the needs and composition of each family.
From September 1, 2025, quarterly rent payments will be made:
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€800 per family plus €200 per dependent child.
Duration:
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For totally destroyed permanent residences: up to 24 months.
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For partially destroyed and uninhabitable permanent residences: up to six months.
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For tenants of affected residences: up to three months.
Example:
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A two-person family under the first category will receive €800/month for up to 24 months.
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A family with three dependent children under the same category will receive €1,400/month for up to 24 months.
The rent subsidy also applies to beneficiaries staying with relatives or friends, and can be used for rental deposits.
For Category 2 beneficiaries, housing may also be arranged in tourist accommodations in nearby mountain areas provided by trade unions (e.g., PASYDY, SEK, DEOK, PEO) or in government housing in Troodos, free of charge and without receiving the rent subsidy. Further details on availability and application will be announced in August.
Measure 3: Full restoration of damages
Damage cost assessments will be carried out by ETEK, which will prepare reports for each building affected, recording its prior condition (where known) and estimating restoration costs. Reports will be verified against building permits.
The Limassol District Administration will also assess the cost of building equipment. Current market prices will be used for assessments. For insured homes, the deductible (excess waiver) will be paid immediately.
A. For licensed and listed/traditional buildings
Financial aid will be granted after the applicant signs a declaration accepting the ex gratia amount set by ETEK’s assessment.
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No application or receipts are required.
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Signing the declaration waives the right to appeal, except for a single appeal to a special Appeals Committee at the Limassol District Administration.
Payment will be made in three installments:
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25% upon signing the acceptance declaration,
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25% upon submission of a statement by an appointed architect/engineer confirming the start of required works,
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50% upon submission of a certificate confirming 50% of the works have been completed, covering the remainder of the works.
For listed or traditional buildings, restoration must preserve traditional morphology and follow standardized approvals by the Department of Town Planning and Housing (TPO). Grants for these buildings will be paid:
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50% before work begins,
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30% upon completion of 50% of works,
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20% after completion, certified by TPO.
Other damages (external works, equipment, etc.) follow the same procedure as other buildings with TPO approval. Restoration of damages to Turkish Cypriot properties will be handled entirely by the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service.
B. For unlicensed buildings (inside or outside residential zones)
To support rural areas while ensuring legality, the following applies:
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Owners of unlicensed structures within residential zones without insurance must apply for a permit by December 31, 2025. Aid is paid:
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25% upon permit application,
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25% after permit issuance and submission of a statement by an appointed architect/engineer,
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50% upon certification that 50% of works are completed.
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If the permit is not granted, only the initial 25% is kept as ex gratia aid.
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For unlicensed structures within residential zones with insurance, owners must also apply for a permit by December 31, 2025.
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If approved, aid equals the deductible (excess waiver).
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If not, aid equals 25% of the deductible.
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For unlicensed structures outside residential zones without insurance, owners must apply to the Council for the Study of Deviations by December 31, 2025. Payment follows the same 25% / 25% / 50% procedure.
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If the permit is denied, only the initial 25% is kept.
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For unlicensed structures outside residential zones with insurance, the same rules as above apply regarding the deductible.
Measure 4: fee exemptions
For TPermanent residents and businesses operating in the affected areas are exempt from paying annual community fees and taxes for 2025. The state will cover the cost to Community Councils.
Measure 5: Rent exemptions
For Turkish Cypriot properties in affected communities leased for agricultural or livestock purposes, the rent obligation is suspended for 12 months from August 1, 2025, regardless of any other assistance granted to affected farmers or livestock breeders.
Similar arrangements will apply to leases/licenses of state-owned plots in affected communities used for agricultural or livestock purposes.
Measure 6: Reissuance of travel documents
Travel documents and other state-issued certificates (ID cards, passports, birth certificates, etc.) destroyed in the fires will be reissued or replaced free of charge.
Other provisions
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No aid is provided for abandoned buildings without electricity connections.
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Buildings constructed before licensing laws are considered licensed.
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Auxiliary buildings follow the same criteria as main residences.
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External work compensation applies only to fences, paving, and pergolas (only permanent structures).
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Pools, landscaping, and artificial turf are excluded.
