Filenews 26 December 2025 - by Vassos Vassiliou
The times when citizens chose rent, not only because their finances did not allow them to acquire their own housing but also because the monthly rent cost much less than the monthly instalment of the house/apartment, have passed and we have reached the point where the amount of rent is almost the same or even greater than an instalment for the acquisition of housing.
The relevant finding belongs to the Minister of the Interior, who is also responsible for the government's housing programs. Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou, answering a question from DIKO MP Mr. Christos Senekis, informs him that the number of refugee applicants for rent subsidies has decreased from 4,509 in 2022 to 3,155 in the year 2024 but, as he clarifies, at the same time the number of people seeking to acquire housing has increased, which also attributes to the increase in rent.
Specifically, Mr. Ioannou records the following: "Based on the data kept, in the last three years there has been a slight decrease in applicants for rent subsidy and a simultaneous increase in applications in purchase or construction plans, as based on market conditions and specifically the increase in rental prices, many choose to buy a house / apartment, As the instalment of a mortgage loan is now similar to the market rent. Specifically, the subsidized in 2022 amounted to 4,509, in 2023 to 3,712 and in 2024 to 3,155. It is noted that in order to address the increasing trend of rents, the subsidy amounts increased from 01/01/2024 by approximately 15%".
The minister's answer demonstrates on the one hand the skyrocketing rents and on the other hand the increased pressure to improve the provisions regarding the state sponsorship for the acquisition of privately owned housing.
It is recalled that especially for the displaced persons, the housing plan ktiZO is also in progress, the implementation of which (ten years from the start of its implementation) will cost about €130 million. At the same time, other housing projects are running. It is noted that the number of beneficiaries of housing assistance has increased since 2013, after the children of refugees were also recognized as refugees. That is, since then, children from a refugee mother have also been considered refugees instead of only from a father as was previously the case and are therefore entitled to housing assistance.
Mr. Senekis had also requested information from the Minister of the Interior as to whether (the minister) intends to proceed with the update and revision of the income criteria governing the Rent Subsidy Scheme for single individuals and organic families of the Service for the Care and Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons, given that they remain unchanged for more than 15 years.
The minister informs the DIKO MP that the Care Service has sent to the Legal Service a Bill (for legal technical control), which also aims to increase the number of beneficiaries.
Specifically, Mr. Ioannou states that: "The purpose of the bill is the abolition of articles 22 to 26 of the Rent Subsidy Law concerning the rent subsidy of displaced persons and victims, the appointment of a Rent Subsidy Officer, the Hierarchical Appeal for decisions of the Rent Subsidy Officer and the duration of validity of the above articles, in order to be able to issue "evaluation criteria" of applications for the Rent Subsidy Scheme, that will govern the rent subsidy. With the approval of the Bill, specific evaluation criteria will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval, which will include both the method of calculating income, as well as new tables of income criteria. The aim will be to increase the number of potential beneficiaries of displaced persons who will be able to benefit from the Plan and its more correct implementation."
In response to a question regarding the budget implementation rate and the approved allocation for the Rent Subsidy, the minister states that this, on average, is absorbed at a rate of more than 90% in the three-year period 2022-2024, as follows: In 2022 at a rate of 93.54%, in 2023 by 93.76% and in 2024 at a rate of 85.39%.
At the same time, Mr. Ioannou explains that "any savings do not remain unspent, but are transferred to the other Housing Plans of the displaced persons related to the Purchase, Construction or Repair of a house / apartment, in which there is overabsorption, thus covering a greater number of approvals than the initially approved budget."
