Newly revised housing plans to regenerate mountain villages, rural areas, and areas on the Green Line, along with allowances to support residents in mountain communities, were approved by the cabinet on Wednesday.
Financial Support for Mountain Communities
In a statement after the meeting, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou highlighted that these housing schemes provide financial support for acquiring housing in mountainous and disadvantaged areas. These schemes were initially implemented “with great success by the previous government in 2019.” Since their inception, 1,500 applications have been approved, resulting in €55 million in financial assistance. In 2023 alone, around 14,000 households, or approximately 29,500 people, benefited from the allowances, with a total grant of €7.5 million.
“Despite the very encouraging response from residents and the modifications made to the plans in previous years, we have received many suggestions and proposals to improve them in a way that maximizes the benefit,” Ioannou said. After consulting with various authorities, new measures have been added to expand the scope of the scheme.
New Measures and Extended Deadlines
The changes include incorporating new communities and increasing the number of beneficiaries. Additionally, cases where construction work has not been completed are now considered eligible, regardless of when the work commenced. The plan is extended until December 31, 2025, transforming it into a two-year plan to give interested parties sufficient time to secure the necessary planning and building permits required to apply.
An exception to the date of acquisition is also granted. Applicants who acquired a dwelling by inheritance in communities categorized as “mountainous and disadvantaged areas” and “extremely mountainous, small and remote areas” before January 1, 2024, can participate in the plan even if the inheritance was acquired earlier.
Furthermore, a letter of pre-approval to participate in the project is granted to secure a loan for the remaining amount. The payment procedure is simplified by distributing the amount in three installments, with the first installment granted as an advance payment to enable work to start more immediately.
These comprehensive changes aim to enhance the effectiveness of the housing plans and provide substantial financial support to residents in mountain communities, ensuring that more people can benefit from these initiatives.
