Operations in Limassol and Larnaca form part of a wider crackdown that uncovered hundreds of lease violations, from unpaid rent to illegal occupation.
Intensive inspections by the Turkish Cypriot Properties Management Service are exposing a system whose significant weaknesses allowed property misuse and illegal activity to persist for years.
According to information obtained by Kathimerini, operations carried out in Limassol and Larnaca over the past week recovered premises from people linked to organized crime. During the Larnaca operation, stolen goods were found stored in a house, and those living there illegally were arrested.
Nationwide inspections of Turkish Cypriot properties uncovered hundreds of lease violations. Authorities terminated 280 leases and recovered 76 premises.
Two other properties were also recovered without the need for a police presence.
What the inspections found
The figures from completed inspections reveal the scale of the problem.
Of 4,032 leases checked for business premises and open spaces, violations were identified in 512 cases—approximately 12.5%. Most involved overdue rent, although more serious breaches included illegal occupation, subletting to third parties, and changes in use.
According to the figures, tenants came into compliance in 146 cases, while 280 leases were terminated. Authorities have already recovered 73 premises or open spaces, with legal or other measures initiated in the remaining cases.
A further 864 leases with local authorities were examined, revealing 78 violations. Three premises were recovered.
Meanwhile, a nationwide review of residential leases is underway. So far, it has identified 31 cases involving breaches of lease conditions and six vacant homes, which are being promptly prepared for re-advertising and allocation.
“The service takes a firm line”
The findings of the nationwide lease inspections show that misuse of Turkish Cypriot property is not an isolated problem.
Asked by Kathimerini to comment on the violations, the service’s director, Anthi Lakkotrypi, said the department takes a firm line wherever breaches are identified. This forms part of a project to overhaul management and improve rent collection by the Custodian of Turkish Cypriot Properties.
The service, she said, is “building a strong shield to restore compliance with the law through practical, close cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and Public Order and the Cyprus Police.”
Where repeated breaches are identified and repossession is considered necessary, specially staffed teams are now assembled to carry out recovery operations.
“In these operations, the strengthened support of the Cyprus Police, through the deployment of a substantial police presence, is crucial,” she said.
Lakkotrypi said the current situation exposes a system that operated for years with significant weaknesses, both in its structures and in the oversight of procedures, decisions, and contracts.
The previous management system, she said, lacked consistency and uniform rules, resulting in unequal treatment of those involved.
“The discretion afforded to each Custodian under the old legal framework encouraged subjective decision-making, while the absence of digital tools slowed procedures and limited effective oversight.”
The aim is to put property management on a sounder footing and move from planning to implementation. Lakkotrypi said specific action plans have been implemented over the past two years, marking a substantial shift toward more orderly and consistent management.
Asked what the current findings reveal, she again pointed to longstanding weaknesses in the system’s structures and oversight of procedures, decisions, and contracts. She described a system marked by inconsistency and a lack of uniform rules, leading to unequal treatment.
“The discretion afforded to each custodian under the old legal framework encouraged subjective decision-making, while the absence of digital tools slowed procedures and limited effective oversight,” she said.
For the first time in 51 years, systematic inspections of Turkish Cypriot property leases are being carried out on the instructions of Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, she added, revealing the scale of the challenge.
Building safety
Beyond lease violations and repossessions, public safety is now a central concern for the service, with particular emphasis on the condition of Turkish Cypriot buildings.
Since April 2026, authorities have conducted 559 visual inspections nationwide of homes already allocated to tenants, assessing whether the buildings pose safety risks.
The inspections produced significant findings. Sixty-eight homes showed visible and concerning damage and deterioration, which are being addressed accordingly. Another 103 require further inspection because of indications that they may be unsafe.
The findings show that the challenges extend beyond property management to the safety of the buildings themselves.
“This work demonstrates our sustained commitment and targeted efforts to fully restore compliance with the law, transparency, and sound administration in the management of Turkish Cypriot properties,” Lakkotrypi said.
