in-cyprus 13 May 2020 -Josephine Koumettou
The House Legal Affairs Committee discussed on Tuesday a postponement till September 30 to the implementation of an amended rent control law introducing speedy evictions for bad tenants.
Speaking to CNA, President of the Legal Affairs Committee Giorgos Georgiou said that during yesterday’s remote sitting of the Committee, members discussed a bill submitted by parties Akel, Diko, Edek and Solidarity Movement and welcomed by Disy to extend the suspension of evictions to bad tenants until the end of September.
He clarified that the proposed bill would suspend the eviction procedures or any decisions or orders for eviction due to non-payment of rent by bad tenants until September 30.
“The reason for the proposed suspension is the same as the one for the initial suspension upheld in March; the situation brought about by measures to curb the spread of coronavirus,” Georgiou said.
Finally, he said that the proposed amendment will be put to a vote at the House plenum on Tuesday, May 19.
For individuals and businesses who are up-to-date with their obligations but are struggling to pay rent amidst the economic meltdown from the Coronavirus outbreak, the Cabinet approved on Thursday tax incentives to encourage landlords to lower rents for three months.
There have been calls for the state to act on rents, something the government has said it cannot do as constitutionally it cannot intervene in private contracts.
