Between €30 and €40,000 would cost the demolition of a two-storey apartment building, similar to the one that collapsed in Limassol, according to the data collected by "F".
Which shows that the amounts are not only not prohibitive, but if the issue is properly managed then the problem can be solved once and for all.
In particular, according to the information of "F", if the local authorities want to proceed with the solution of the problem, they can do so without particular difficulties, especially since most of the dangerous buildings in Cyprus have already been recorded.
By law, it seems that local authorities could intervene if a building was classified as dangerous and demolish it. According to people in the construction sector, a demolition of a house ranges between €20 and €25,000, while a two-storey apartment building, such as the one that collapsed in Limassol, reaches up to about €40,000. The same people noted that these amounts are not prohibitive, while the procedures could be initiated, even if they are characterized by some as time-consuming, Since some of these dangerous buildings have been identified for several years, but no one has proceeded with what is provided for by law.
In fact, as the Mayor of Amathus, Kyriakos Xydias, characteristically mentioned, warning letters had been sent for this apartment building since 2017 (the period when he was Mayor of Germasogeia), adding that the legislation presupposes time-consuming, costly and difficult procedures. However, the question remains whether it is justified due to time-consuming procedures, as claimed, not to take any action for demolition for a period of nine years after the discovery of the dangerous apartment building, since the amount for such an action, which would save the lives of tenants and passers-by, is not prohibitive.
What the legislation says
In the Law on the Regulation of Roads and Buildings, special reference is made to dangerous buildings, since it provides for ex officio intervention, evacuation of premises and obligations for owners, while in case of non-compliance, judicial procedures are activated and measures are imposed with cost recovery.
More specifically, as stated in the legislation:
15B.-(1) In the event that the competent authority is satisfied that any building, whether inhabited or not, which is located in the area of its competence, is in such a condition that it becomes dangerous for the persons residing in it or in a neighbouring building or for passers-by or for neighbouring buildings and that it is imperative to take measures to remove such risk, That competent authority may,
(a) To enter the building and/or the area surrounding it ex officio and to take all necessary measures to remove the imminent risk of causing bodily harm, in the presence of a police officer, in case he has reasonable cause to believe that he will be prevented from exercising his powers or performing his duties,
(b) by means of a written notice, which shall be served on the owner and/or the persons residing therein, inform them of the decision taken, as well as of the reasons which support this decision and to invite them to, within a period specified in the notice, to abandon and vacate the building:
It is provided that, in the event that a person residing in it refuses to leave and evacuate the building, the competent authority requests the issuance of a Court order for the removal of persons and the evacuation of the building,
(c) by means of a written notice, which is served on the owner, to inform him of the decision taken, as well as of the reasons which support this decision and to invite him, within a period specified in the notice, which in no case is less than three (3) days from the service of the notice to:
(i) appoint a designer for the preparation of a relevant report and/or study for the removal of the risk and the repair of the building and for its immediate submission to the competent authority, and/or
(ii) repair, remove, protect or fence the building and generally take all the measures specified in the notice to remove any risk arising from such a building:
It is understood that the competent authority may request additional measures to remove the risk.
(2) In the event that the owner is unable to take the necessary actions described in the notice issued on the basis of the provisions of paragraph (c) of subsection (1), he shall inform the competent authority in writing, within three (3) days from the service of the notice, of the reasons why he cannot comply with the provisions of the notice.
(3) If, after the notice has been served on the owner, the owner fails to comply with the requirements contained therein within the specified time limit, the competent authority may arrange for such works to be carried out as they would have deemed appropriate for the repair, removal, protection or fencing or for carrying out the measures specified in the notice and the costs thereof shall be paid by the owner; that can be sought in court by lawsuit as a civil debt:
It is understood that it is not possible to take any measure under this paragraph, in relation to a building used as a residence, without a decree of the Court authorizing the entry into such a building and the adoption of the proposed measures; That decree is made following a procedure which begins with an application by summons in accordance with the relevant procedural rules:
It is further provided that, in the event that a dangerous building is detected by the local authority, which is located in the area of its competence, the local authority must immediately inform the competent authority.
