Minister clarifies responsibility for hazardous buildings

On April 16, 2026, Minister of Interior Konstantinos Ioannou stated that District Organizations for Self-Government (EOA) bear the primary responsibility for managing approximately 1,300 hazardous buildings. The minister emphasized that while the state provides legislative frameworks and support, property owners hold the initial liability for structural integrity. EOA officials are expected to exhaust compliance measures before requesting state funding, noting that past efforts have yielded a maximum compliance rate of 50%. New instructions have been issued to re-evaluate the 1,300 identified buildings, prioritizing those at the highest risk. Current legislation allows for immediate evacuation, prohibition of use, and utility disconnection for extremely dangerous structures. Furthermore, the minister mandated the creation and publication of a public registry of hazardous buildings. This registry aims to inform citizens and prevent the listing of unsafe properties on platforms like Airbnb.