Government approves title deeds for refugee residences with planning irregularities

The Cyprus Council of Ministers has approved a proposal by Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou to grant title deeds and lease certificates to displaced persons residing in government housing estates and self-housing projects. Previously, these individuals were unable to obtain legal titles due to planning irregularities or unauthorized structural interventions. Under the new, more flexible procedure, deeds will be issued with a mandatory notation of existing irregularities. These property titles will carry a restriction prohibiting sale or transfer until the noted irregularities are resolved. However, holders may use these titles for inheritance purposes or potentially for mortgage collateral, subject to bank approval. Currently, 7,859 title deeds or lease certificates are pending issuance, including 838 cases involving encroachments on public or private land. To date, 17,418 titles or lease certificates have already been successfully issued to beneficiaries.