Serious questions have been raised regarding the management of Turkish Cypriot properties in the free areas of Cyprus, based on data provided by the Ministry of Interior to DISY MP Nikos Georgiou following a parliamentary inquiry. The data highlights the total amount collected by the Custodian of Turkish Cypriot Properties from leasing land or premises to municipalities and communities.

According to information obtained by Brief, the Custodian receives an annual amount of €518,404.55 for leasing out 841 properties to local authorities. This means that the average rental income for each property is less than €700 per year.

In some cases, municipalities and communities are subleasing these premises to private individuals at rates reaching thousands of euros, while they pay significantly lower rents to the Custodian. This has prompted MP Nikos Georgiou to state that there are instances where municipalities and communities may be abusing these leases with the Custodian's implicit consent. Speaking to Brief, Georgiou said, "There are cases where municipalities and communities seem to be exploiting these properties with the blessing of the Custodian of Turkish Cypriot Properties."

While Mr. Georgiou clarified that among the leased properties are plots intended for public use, such as squares, parks, and parking areas, which are not subleased, he emphasized that there must be thorough monitoring of other cases where municipalities sublease properties to private individuals for substantial amounts.

According to the data, most of the properties leased by the Custodian are located in Paphos Municipality (100 Turkish Cypriot properties for €65,000 per year), while the highest rent payments to the Custodian come from Larnaca Municipality (19 properties for €249,000 per year). It should be noted, as mentioned above, that each property differs in location, use, and other details, and there must be proper oversight to ensure fair leasing and subleasing practices.

More specifically, the 841 properties leased by the Custodian, generating a total annual amount of €518,404.55, are distributed by district as follows:

1. Nicosia District: Agreement with 29 municipalities and communities for 100 properties, with a total annual leasing amount of €50,894.21.

2. Limassol District: Agreement with 27 municipalities and communities for 186 properties, with a total annual leasing amount of €65,044.43.

3. Larnaca District: Agreement with 36 municipalities and communities for 190 properties, with a total annual leasing amount of €290,117.33.

4. Paphos District: Agreement with 50 municipalities and communities for 365 properties, with a total annual leasing amount of €112,348.58.

Commenting on the data, Mr. Georgiou stated that this information will be vital during the discussion of the amended bill and regulations concerning the granting of Turkish Cypriot properties. According to Mr. Georgiou, the number of Turkish Cypriot plots allocated to local authorities has increased exponentially. He stressed that while the law allows for such allocations, they should remain exceptions made solely for public interest purposes and not become the rule.