Paphos Mayor Phedonas Phedonos has highlighted the city’s growing housing crisis, particularly for students and middle-income workers, as rents have soared to unaffordable levels.
Speaking on Protoselido, he explained that many young people are either forced to share overcrowded, unsuitable spaces or commute daily from other districts. “Rents have reached unbelievable levels. Even if you have money, it is almost impossible to find a place,” he said.
The mayor pointed to illegal conversions of shops and basements into accommodation, where “10–12 foreign workers are crammed together, paying €150 each.” In these cases, landlords collect up to €1,200 from properties that would normally rent for less than €300.
As a response, the municipality is converting abandoned central buildings into low-cost student hostels. “We listened to students struggling with €700–800 rents. The municipality is renovating old hostels in the city centre. In the coming days, 22 rooms will be delivered, with the goal of reaching 40 by the end of the year,” Phedonos said.
The rooms include shared kitchens and bathrooms but offer full independence. “The rent is €150, including water, electricity, and internet. It is a social project,” he stressed.
The mayor also described the case of a student from the Kokkinichoria area who commutes daily to Paphos due to the lack of affordable housing — with high fuel costs and road safety risks adding to the family’s burden.
Phedonos warned that while the municipal initiative will provide relief, it will not reduce rents overall due to high demand. He called for the construction of at least 500 student residences and for state cooperation with municipalities to develop social housing. “Workers earning €1,000–1,500 cannot buy or rent a home. We must find ways to provide housing for ordinary citizens, not just developers,” he concluded.
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