New opportunities for home ownership are being created through the Interior Ministry’s new housing scheme. More than 570 state-owned plots in communities across Cyprus will be made available to eligible families at 25% of their market value, based on income and other criteria. The scheme also aims to support young families and revitalise rural areas.
Access to affordable housing is a key prerequisite for social cohesion and citizens’ well-being. With this in mind, the Government is implementing a series of housing measures aimed at creating more, higher-quality and more affordable housing options for citizens.
As part of these efforts, the Interior Ministry is proceeding with the implementation of the new Scheme for the Allocation of Plots to Families Based on Income Criteria in communities across Cyprus.
Plots will be made available at 25% of their market value, providing a significant opportunity for young families and those on low or middle incomes to acquire land and build their own home for permanent residence.
In the immediate future, more than 570 existing unallocated state-owned plots, resulting from previous land divisions, will be made available to eligible beneficiaries across all districts. At the same time, the scheme provides for the creation of new plots through the subdivision of state land in communities that express an interest in participating.
In a recorded statement, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said that through the scheme, the Government aims to broaden housing options while making use of available state land for the benefit of society, particularly young families.
According to Ioannou, the scheme has a dual objective: on the one hand, to support families facing difficulties in acquiring their own home and, on the other, to contribute to strengthening and revitalising rural communities, particularly in mountainous, remote and disadvantaged areas.
Key provisions of the scheme
- Plots will be made available at 25% of their market value.
- The scheme applies exclusively to communities across all districts, including the 63 communities that have been incorporated into municipalities.
- Eligible beneficiaries are Cypriot citizens who are couples with or without children, as well as single-parent families.
- At least one member of a couple must be under the age of 45 at the time the application is submitted.
- At least one member of the couple must be a permanent resident of the community where the plots are located or of a neighbouring community situated no more than 15 kilometres away.
- Annual gross family income must not exceed the specified thresholds:
- Couple or single-parent family: up to €45,000
- Three-person family: up to €50,000
- Four-person family: up to €55,000
- Family of five or more: up to €65,000
- Plots will be allocated according to the following order of priority:
- People originally from the community who permanently reside there
- Displaced persons who permanently reside in the community
- People who have moved elsewhere within Cyprus and wish to return to the community
- Repatriates or Cypriots living abroad who meet the specific requirements
- Permanent residents of neighbouring communities located no more than 15 kilometres from the boundaries of the community where the plots are situated
- In the event of a tie, priority will be given, in order, to large families, other families, single-parent families and couples.
- Beneficiaries must complete construction of their home within three years of signing the relevant agreement for the allocation of the state-owned plot.
- The plot cannot be transferred before construction of the home has been completed, while the home cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of until five years have passed from the date of its completion.
Procedure for new land subdivisions in interested communities
Regarding new subdivisions of state-owned land in communities that have already expressed or will express an interest in the scheme, particular emphasis will be placed on mountainous, remote and disadvantaged areas.
The process begins when communities express their interest and submit the relevant requests to their respective District Administrations. The authorities will then assess the requests and examine the proposed plots of land in accordance with the provisions of the scheme.
For available plots, the application process will be announced by the relevant District Administrations, which will publish the necessary information and application forms.
Further information and the scheme’s detailed guide are available on the Interior Ministry’s website.
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