The row between DISY and the government over the housing issue is like a dog chasing its tail

 

11 June 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The squabble and the mutual blame game between DISY and the Christodoulides government over housing policy is like a dog chasing its tail. They themselves have been in power and governing for 13 years now, with the same policies and formulas being implemented that have been yielding the same results. Moreover, Christodoulides’ statements at an opening ceremony yesterday in Limassol cannot hide the fact that his government is merely counting and piling up announcements, while citizens are counting their wages that aren’t enough to make ends meet, rents they can’t afford and their dreams of homeownership slipping further out of reach for thousands of couples.

The Christodoulides government must first acknowledge that the problem is far more extensive than it portrays. It is the lives and daily realities of society that tell the truth. Workers and young people are forced to spend half or even more of their income just to secure a place to live, while more and more are leaving urban centres or staying in their parents’ homes, unable to become independent.

More specifically, Limassol remains by far the most expensive city in Cyprus for renting and buying a home. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in central Limassol currently ranges between €1,300 and €1,600 per month. In light of all this, the government policies that have been announced or implemented so far have failed to stem the escalation of the problem, which has now evolved into a housing crisis.

AKEL asserts and proposes a bold, socially oriented, and comprehensive strategy that addresses the real causes of the crisis rather than its consequences. We have already submitted specific proposals, such as restricting the uncontrolled purchase of real estate properties by third-country nationals for investment purposes.

At the same time, AKEL is calling for measures to ensure the mass construction of affordable housing through collaboration between the state, local government, and the private sector; the substantial strengthening of the Cyprus Land Development Organization; the further utilization of state-owned land for social housing purposes, and the creation of special financial instruments to support young people in purchasing their first home.