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Directly responsible for the dangerous buildings are the owners for any accident that may occur and therefore within a very short period of time they must take all necessary measures, the Nicosia Municipality said in a statement.
It notes, however, that if the owners do not respond and the hazard requires immediate intervention, then the municipality will undertake the removal of the hazard and charge the owners.
It stands to reason, it says, that the local authority does not have unlimited financial resources to maintain all the dangerous structures. At the moment, it is noted, there are around 250 registered buildings which, some more and some less dangerous.
"If the owner refuses to carry out the work required to remove the dangerousness of their property, the legislation places this responsibility on local authorities. The municipality has intervened in 48 buildings in the last 2 years. The cost to the taxpayer amounts to €500,000 per year," it adds.
Overall, it is reported that a number of owners have responded but, unfortunately, most have not.
As noted, in the last two years a total of 327 buildings have been declared dangerous (62 dilapidated). In 162 buildings the risk has been removed 255 buildings, of which 3 dilapidated, are still monitored by the Technical Service, 73 buildings are "in need of repair" and were not declared dangerous, in 48 buildings the Technical Service intervened at a total cost of € 530,287, in 71 buildings an administrative fine was imposed for a total of € 421.The Municipality of Nicosia states that the provisions of the legislation may work at acceptable levels in theory, but in practice they do not.
[/P]"Today, if an owner refuses to carry out maintenance or even an annual inspection, the responsibility is transferred to the Municipality.
"Today, if an owner refuses to carry out maintenance or even an annual inspection, the responsibility is transferred to the Municipality. But why should the taxpaying citizen be saddled with the cost of maintenance or annual inspection of a private property? Why is it that while the benefits of owning a property remain private, the costs become collective? The legislation of course gives the local authority the ability to charge owners if they carry out maintenance work, but this does not work in practice. Most owners do not respond, with the result that local authorities are either driven into lengthy legal proceedings, or wait for the sale, licensing or transfer of the property to compensate the owners," it adds.
In the meantime, it says, the cash flow required for maintenance is effectively borne by the taxpayer. There is a provision to impose an administrative fine on the owner (up to 20,000 euros), but at the same time he is given the possibility to appeal up to the Supreme Court.
The Nicosia Municipality notes that in order to change the situation substantially, it is necessary to take a number of measures such as modernizing the legislation by introducing provisions that allow local authorities to impose on the owner the restoration before collapse occurs (not just removing any risk).
"The owner to be responsible for an annual inspection of unrestored listed buildings, through civil engineers and/or architects approved by the NEC. In the case of listed but restored buildings, this inspection may be carried out every five years and for newer buildings every ten years. In this way the monitoring responsibility is borne by the owner together with his expert consultants", it is stated.
Other measures include a significant increase in incentives from the Urban Planning Department for full or partial restoration/restoration of listed buildings, simplification of licensing procedures and relaxation of the conditions required for licensing the restoration of listed buildings, and the removal of rent control in listed buildings.
Also, in the case of apartment buildings, the creation of a Repair Fund for common areas, with strict penalties in case of non-compliance by owners and acceleration of legal proceedings.
The state, it is noted, was proceeding with the immediate maintenance of all properties under its ownership or management, including Turkish Cypriot properties located in the walled city.
It is recalled that the Nicosia Municipality has submitted the above recommendations in writing to all relevant state institutions, namely the Ministry of Interior, the Interior Committee of the Parliament and all political parties. Unfortunately, to date, nothing has been done.
Source: CNA
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