Audit Reveals Serious Issues in Cyprus Land Registry

The House of Representatives of Cyprus Control Committee has identified serious problems in the operation of the Department of Lands and Surveys.

According to the Auditor General's report, uncollected revenues reached 18.5 million euros in 2024, a 3 million euro increase from the previous year. The main issue lies in the weak oversight of state land lease agreements and tenant arrears.

It is also noted that by mid-2025, nearly 8,000 applications for state land leases had accumulated, with the average processing time being approximately eight years.

Auditors also discovered around 1,100 cases of illegal use of state land, some of which have remained unresolved for over 15 years.

Private land seizures for defense purposes were highlighted as a separate issue, sometimes occurring without the required official decrees.

Furthermore, the department faces a severe staff shortage—44 employees left the service last year, and dozens of positions remain vacant. The most significant deficit is observed in the Limassol and Paphos regions, where the workload is highest.

While authorities stated that digitalization of the cadastral system continues, parliamentarians emphasized the need to accelerate reforms and address the delays causing public dissatisfaction.