Wait times up to 10 years: audit reveals massive delays in Cyprus Land Registry

In Cyprus, the average waiting time for processing applications at the Department of Lands and Surveys reaches 17 months, and in some cases, up to 16 years. This was stated in the Audit Office report published on February 17.

According to the audit data, in boundary disputes with neighbors, the average wait for a decision is 125 months, which is more than 10 years. In several instances, a field inspection was conducted 6–10 years later, and the final decision was sent 15 years after the surveying work was completed. Processing cases regarding the disposal of alienated state land takes an average of 90 months.

Auditor General Andreas Papaconstantinou stated the need for a fundamental shift in the department's approach, modernization of procedures, and the establishment of clear deadlines. He noted that delays lead to inconvenience for citizens, loss of state revenue, and hinder the work of other agencies.

As of December 31, 2024, there were 1,127 cases of illegal use of state land under consideration. Some of these in Nicosia remain unresolved for more than 15 years. Furthermore, the volume of uncollected revenue of the Land Registry reached 18.5 million euros, of which 13.6 million euros are arrears for state land leases.