* Provision for special subsidy for the purchase or construction of your new home
The provision for a special allowance is subject to the provisions of the Special Grant (Purchase or Construction of Housing) Act, No. 91 (I) / 2006.
An important condition for the payment of the special allowance is that the request be accompanied, among other documents, by the sworn statement of the contractor and / or construction company that holds an annual contractors license.
View all details of the communication of the Ministry of Interior in the following pdf: pdf 1 
pdf 2
* A reduced VAT rate (5%) on the renovation and repair of private dwellings pdf 1 pdf2
* Review of the States Housing Policy with effect from 01/07/2008
This communication refers to the housing policy for displaced persons in a single housing project (for all citizens) as well as rent subsidies for displaced persons and victims.
Details within pdf
* Plan for Energy Saving Grants
Under the policy of state for energy conservation and global awareness on the subject, entered into force on 21 December 2007, the Law on Regulation of the Energy Performance of Buildings 2006.
The Energy Agency of the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Tourism will continue to accept applications for grant sponsorship to save energy and encourage the use of renewable energy, new investments in thermal insulation materials, and until 19/12/2008.
Details in pdf
* The Directive on Energy Efficiency - Environment Cabinet The purpose of Directive 2006/32/EC on the last date of application 17/05/2008 is to enhance the cost-effective energy efficiency end-use in Member States through:
(a) providing indicative targets and mechanisms, incentives and institutional, financial and legal frameworks, to remove existing barriers and imperfections that impede the efficient end-use of energy
(b) creating conditions for the development and promotion of the energy services market and the delivery to final consumers, other measures to improve energy efficiency.
Details in pdf
* Workshop on "Reducing administrative burdens in the proceedings for the issue of planning permission and Building Permit"
Rationalization of State functions, simplification of procedures and a reduction of bureaucracy through the establishment of a modern regulatory framework to complement and strengthen the effective functioning of the market mechanism is an important initiative of the European Commission, which is under the Lisbon Strategy is based on three pillars:
- Simplification of legislation
- Reducing administrative burdens
- Analysis of the impact with respect to environmental, economic and social impacts of all new legislative proposals
The reduction of administrative burdens to businesses and the simplification of legislation will lead to increased competitiveness and productivity of SMBs and thus increase the rate of economic growth with the ultimate recipient of the benefits being the businessman and the European citizen. Better regulation is one of the answers to the challenges of globalization, leading to strengthening the position of the European Union in international markets.
At the European Council of Spring 2007, the Agenda of the European Commission was adopted, which has set a target to reduce administrative burdens by 25% at a community level by 2012. On the basis of the European Commission, the administrative burden at EU level, amounting to 3.5% of GDP. Achieving the goal of reducing the burden by 25% would mean an increase in EU GDP by about 1.5% (183 billion).
For Cyprus, this initiative is an important priority, given the small size of the vast majority of businesses that are particularly affected by complex and distorting laws, and given the problem of bureaucracy in the public service, which adversely affects both citizens and businesses. The goal is a decentralized public service, committed to serving citizens with reduced administrative costs, responding to changing and growing needs of modern society.
To promote this initiative in Cyprus, the Ministry of Finance has prepared a National Action Plan. The program includes measures, implementation of which will aid the freeing of resources for investment and business development, by simplifying procedures and reducing administrative costs. As a national target to reduce administrative burdens on our national legislation has been 20%, which should be achieved by 2012. According to calculations by the European Union, the cost of bureaucracy in Cyprus reached the figure of 6.8% of the GDP and is among the highest in Europe. Achieving a reduction in bureaucracy, the European Union calculates productivity growth in Cyprus by 3.3% and GDP by 1.5%.
Within this framework the pilot project on the complex and lengthy procedures for granting planning and building permits has been running. The aim of the pilot program is to improve the regulatory framework in Cyprus, which is reducing the administrative burden on undertakings, in issuing planning permission and building permit.
The workshop held on October 16, 2008 was an exchange of views between all stakeholders from the public and private sectors, recommendations were submitted for addressing this complex problem that torments both citizens and businesses so many years. The private firm Deloitte has undertaken the task, regarding the reduction of administrative burdens in the urban planning and building permit area, will consider all suggestions that will be submitted, and will report the final results of the program by the end of October 2008.
Click on the pdf to view the presentation by Deloitte during the workshop.
Οδός Ανδροκλέους 3Α, 1060, Λευκωσία, Κύπρος,
