More than 1,000 hazardous buildings found in the Larnaca district, hundreds of families at risk

The Larnaca District Local Government Organisation (DLGO) has completed a large-scale mapping of the housing stock. The results were critical: 1,050 unsafe properties were identified, almost twice the authorities’ initial estimates from April 2025. Of these, 471 buildings are in the municipality of Larnaca itself, 346 are in rural communities, and the rest are distributed across other parts of the district. So far, private engineers have carried out the first 180 visual inspections, and 94 buildings have been classified in the highest hazard category, “C” (risk of collapse without immediate action).

The main concern for the department is that 31 unsafe properties in category “C” are still occupied. These include 4 residential houses and 27 apartment complexes (26 of them in Larnaca and one in Pyla), where around 300 families live in total. The risk zone includes the city centre, the Sotiros and Chrysopolitissa areas. Among the dangerous properties is the Filanda residential complex (79 apartments and 10 shops) and another large block in the centre with 64 apartments. DLGO head Angelos Hadjicharalambous said the department intends to take action on all 31 occupied properties within 15 days, while empty unsafe buildings will be sealed off.

The authorities are urging owners to act responsibly, warning of heavy administrative fines for refusing to carry out repairs. Since the end of May, the Madona Court residential complex has already been evacuated, the Club D'Lux venue has been shut down, and the demolition process for several buildings has begun. However, further relocation of residents is running into serious social and legal problems. The Social Welfare Subsection has refused to intervene, and the shortage of affordable housing in Larnaca is making it difficult to find alternative accommodation. In addition, current legislation requires lengthy court proceedings for forced evacuation or fines, which is why the relevant committee is now preparing urgent amendments to the law. The mapping has already cost the budget a significant amount and has temporarily paralysed the issuing of construction licences, while the allocated €2 million, according to the DLGO, will not be enough.