Mismanagement claims of Turkish Cypriot homes in Pano Lefkara

Mismanagement of Turkish Cypriot homes in Pano Lefkara has been highlighted as a long-standing issue, with some houses reportedly used simply for storage, the town’s mayor has said on Wednesday.

The matter was discussed in a recent meeting attended by members of the House committee on refugees, alongside representatives from relevant government departments.

Mayor Sofocles Sofocleous told the meeting that, with the tolerance of the Turkish Cypriot properties management service, some individuals have taken control of two or three Turkish Cypriot houses each, mainly using them as warehouses. He said the problem has persisted for decades and affects about 18 per cent of the village, which consists of Turkish Cypriot homes abandoned by their legal owners in 1963 following intercommunal unrest.

“The current situation raises serious questions about proper administration. Dangerous and dilapidated houses remain unattended, while agreements signed between custodians and citizens were never implemented. Many properties have been empty and neglected for years, creating a visual blight in key areas of the village,” the mayor said.

During the meeting, mayor Sofocleous requested that the House refugee committee investigate the allegations as part of parliamentary oversight. He asked that within 40 days a follow-up meeting be held, in which the Turkish Cypriot properties management service provides a detailed list of all legal beneficiaries of Turkish Cypriot homes in Pano Lefkara.

He also called for all legal measures to be taken to end long-standing irregularities in the management and allocation of these properties. The mayor suggested that the homes should be assigned to legal beneficiaries, particularly young couples who have already applied for housing.

Pano Lefkara is a village with a mosque and a Turkish Cypriot cemetery, and the mayor emphasised the importance of protecting these sites. He added that the next step for the municipality is to review the methods by which Turkish Cypriot land plots in the area are allocated, noting that some plots have been cultivated by individuals for private purposes.

“Our only concern is that all allocations follow legal criteria,” he said.