It is one of those things that do not happen often, but if, in the end, the legislation concerning dangerous buildings is implemented, other similar incidents may occur.
The case is related to a dangerous building which was identified by officials of the Limassol District Organization (EOA) and when they checked it more meticulously they concluded that it was not just dangerous but dilapidated. This entailed its abandonment by the residents of it. The officials of the HOA found that an elderly couple lived in it.
The prescribed procedures were initiated, they were evicted and then, having nowhere to lay their heads, the Limassol Police was informed who picked up the two elderly people and took them to the city police station, leaving them in the courtyard.
The Police did not know how to handle the issue, in the sense that, on the one hand, the elderly had nowhere to stay, on the other hand, they could not stay at the police station.
Eventually, the police, apparently, after some contacts with other services, found a house in Nicosia, which is suitable for similar cases, put the elderly on a patrol car and drove them to the capital in order to be accommodated until a more permanent place of residence was found.
After staying for 1-2 days, they could not stand it and "escaped" returning to the dilapidated building where they lived.
In addition to the specific case and the question of who will bear the responsibility in the event of the collapse of the specific building, the question also arises "where will those who move away from their dangerous houses or apartments live, at a time when housing units are hard to find and where they exist, rents are a deterrent for the majority of citizens.
Especially those who live in apartment buildings (which face a more serious problem than individual houses) are people who, if they had money, obviously, would either have their own house/apartment or rent in non-dangerous buildings.
The president of EOA Limassol, Mr. Yiannis Tsouloftas, with whom we contacted, confirmed the fact that the building in which the couple lived was dilapidated, observing that both this particular case, as well as other similar ones, must be managed in an organized manner. The EOAs are not able, nor is it their mission, to solve social problems, although they are doing everything they can to avoid tragic consequences and implement the legislation, he added.
