Statement by the Head of Social Policy at the C.C. of AKEL, Evanthia Savva on the government’s new housing plans
22 March 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
The announcement of the new housing plans by the Government comes at a time when the cost of living and prices are on the rise and building materials have increased to such an extent that the cost of building or even buying a house seems increasingly difficult or even impossible to obtain housing, especially for young couples.
The schemes announced appear to be an improvement. It is positive that the Government has finally acknowledged the problems and shortcomings that existed in the previous schemes as regards their effectiveness, which we as AKEL have often pointed out. We also underlined that in order to revitalise the countryside, in addition to promoting housing, measures for economic and social development such as improving the road network, infrastructure and creating employment opportunities are also demanded.
For us, the issue of housing and ensuring dignified living conditions is a universal right which must be guaranteed through a comprehensive and socially-oriented housing policy.
We reiterate once again the necessity for:
- The establishment of a Housing Policy body to deal with issues of coordination, policy formulation, targeting priorities and evaluation of programmes.
- The extension of the institution of social housing, with an emphasis on programmes for the construction of housing by the state and local authorities, which should be provided at low rents or on a rental basis on the basis of socio-economic criteria.
- The implementation of a rent subsidy scheme based on socio-economic criteria.
- Tax reductions for the construction of first homes for young couples.
- Measures to address the inability of low and middle income households to secure finance.
- Measures that respond to the inability to find housing with affordable rent.
Only with targeted measures will citizens be able to have access to the right to dignified housing.
