Urgent Need for Legislative Reform and Accountability for Owners of Dangerous Buildings – The Position of the Municipality of Amathounta and Mayor Mr. Kyriakos Xydias

The recent tragedy involving the collapse of a building has brought to the forefront, in the most devastating way, a long-standing issue that the State must now address at its root. The Municipality of Amathounta and Mayor Mr. Kyriakos Xydias make it clear that public safety cannot be sacrificed in the name of profit or legislative shortcomings.

As many have acknowledged, this issue has been discussed for at least the past ten years without the necessary action being taken. Once again, tragedy has occurred before meaningful measures were implemented.

From the very beginning, although responsibility for dangerous buildings and the relevant permits has rested with the District Local Government Organisation (EOA) for the past year, the Mayor of Amathounta stressed that when human lives are lost, responsibility belongs to everyone. Shifting responsibility from one authority to another does not serve the public interest. On the contrary, it prevents us from learning from past mistakes and from preventing future tragedies. Public safety demands seriousness and collective responsibility.

As highlighted today by the President of ETEK, the President of the Association of Civil Engineers, and several other experts in the field, with more than 1,200 dangerous buildings officially recorded across Cyprus, we are faced with an unacceptable reality. Property owners who are fully aware of the dangerous condition of their buildings continue to rent them out for financial gain, often to vulnerable members of society, with no regard for their structural safety and little fear of legal consequences.

Although no Municipality is responsible for these dangerous buildings, we must be honest and realistic. Even the District Local Government Organisation (EOA), as the competent authority, cannot effectively address the problem without the appropriate legislative tools provided by the State. The position of the Municipality of Amathounta is clear: four critical legislative measures must be introduced without delay.

Firstly, the law should empower the competent authorities to immediately disconnect electricity and water services as soon as a building is officially classified as dangerous. It is unacceptable for buildings that pose a serious risk to human life to remain occupied or rented out while owners continue to generate income from unsafe properties.

Secondly, the law must become uncompromising in cases of criminal negligence by introducing substantial prison sentences and significant financial penalties for owners who deliberately ignore official warnings. It is unacceptable that, despite receiving formal notices from the authorities, some owners continue to disregard their legal obligations because the absence of effective penalties leaves them virtually unaccountable.

Thirdly, building safety should no longer depend solely on the goodwill of individual owners. It must become a legal obligation. Legislation should require mandatory periodic building inspections, similar to a vehicle roadworthiness test, together with a valid structural safety certificate for every building.

Finally, the State must modernise the legal framework governing building management committees by making them mandatory for every multi-unit building. This will ensure continuous oversight of shared infrastructure and the establishment of maintenance reserve funds for the proper upkeep of buildings.

The Municipality of Amathounta emphasises that the transfer of responsibility between authorities and the lack of effective legislative tools continue to undermine the protection of citizens. Responsibility ultimately lies with the State, which must proceed without further delay with the adoption of the long-pending legislation, providing the competent authorities with the powers they need to intervene effectively before more lives are lost.

As a society, we must not allow the loss of our fellow citizens to fade into bureaucracy. The safety of our buildings and infrastructure is a matter of moral responsibility and respect for the most precious value of all: human life.