The government has launched a new housing scheme allowing private companies to build dedicated, smaller collective residential units for their employees.
The programme, announced yesterday by President Nikos Christodoulides and Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, follows consultation with industry leaders, including the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Cypriot Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB).
Interior Minister Ioannou stated that the plan’s goal is to create targeted housing solutions for business personnel, ensuring “decent living conditions” while also serving the dual purpose of re-entering standard residential units back into the market. Authorities say this will gradually balance supply and demand, leading to a decompression of market prices for both property purchases and rentals.
Reduced sizes and detailed specifications
The new scheme drastically reduces the building specifications required for these specialised units. Key changes include smaller communal areas, reduced parking provisions, and a unit floor area that will be nearly half that of standard residential developments.
The specialised units, which can be constructed in commercial zones or by modifying existing infrastructure, feature the following minimum square-metre specifications to ensure functionality:
| Unit Type (No. of Bedrooms) | Bedrooms (sq. m.) | Sanitary Facilities (sq. m.) | Kitchen (sq. m.) | Living Area (sq. m.) | Total (sq. m.) |
| One bedroom | 9 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 27 |
| Two bedrooms | 16 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 34 |
| Three bedrooms | 24 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 47 |
| Four bedrooms | 32 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 58 |
| Five bedrooms | 40 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 67 |
| Six bedrooms | 48 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 79 |
| Seven bedrooms | 56 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 88 |
| Eight bedrooms | 64 | 5 | 11 | 19 | 99 |
| Nine bedrooms | 72 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 110 |
| Ten bedrooms | 80 | 7 | 11 | 21 | 119 |
| Eleven bedrooms | 88 | 8 | 13 | 22 | 131 |
| Twelve bedrooms | 96 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 140 |
Flexible parking rules
Parking requirements have also been streamlined. Typically, one car parking space will be required for every six bedrooms (or fraction thereof), alongside one scooter or bicycle space per bed. In a bid to promote sustainable mobility, units served by employer-provided bus or minibus transport will see the requirement further reduced to one car parking space for every twelve rooms.
Michalis Antoniou, General Director of the OEB, expressed satisfaction with the announcement, telling the press that the decisions were “moving in the correct direction.” He noted that there is “great interest” from employers across nearly all sectors of the economy, including retail, catering, tourism, and construction. He concluded that these decisions will accelerate the alleviation of the housing problem while ensuring employees can live in appropriate conditions.
The Minister of Interior’s final order detailing the minimum specifications is expected to be published in the coming days.
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