Σε σημαντικές τροποποιήσεις για τη διαδικασία αδειοδότησης ακινήτων πρόκειται να προβεί εντός του 2024 η Κυπριακή Κυβέρνηση μέσω του Υπουργείου Εσωτερικών. Κορυφαίο όλων των μέτρων που αποφασίστηκαν θεωρείται η κατάργηση της πολεοδομικής και οικοδομικής άδειας για μικρές αναπτύξεις και συγκεκριμένα για οικίες και πολυκατοικίες μέχρι 12 διαμερίσματα.

Η εν λόγω τροποποίηση σκοπεί στην άμβλυνση του υφιστάμενου προβλήματος των καθυστερήσεων στην έκδοση των απαιτούμενων αδειών και συνακόλουθα στην πραγματοποίηση των έργων ανάπτυξης και ανοικοδόμησης. Παράλληλα, θα εναρμονιστεί η διαδικασία εξέτασης των αιτήσεων από τις κατά τόπους αρμόδιες πολεοδομικές και οικοδομικές Αρχές με σκοπό την εξοικονόμηση χρόνου και αυθαιρεσίας.
Μείνετε σε επαφή μαζί μας για να ενημερώνεστε για τις νομικές εξελίξεις που σας επηρεάζουν!

Cyprus’s Ministry of Interior is undertaking significant amendments to the property licensing process in 2024. Among the measures decided, the abolition of the planning and building permit for small developments and specifically for houses and apartment buildings up to 12 apartments, is considered to be the most important.

This amendment aims to alleviate the existing problem of delays in issuing the necessary permits and consequently to carrying out development and reconstruction works. At the same time, the procedure for examination of applications by the local competent urban planning and building authorities will be harmonized for time saving purposes.

Keep in touch with us to stay informed about legal developments that affect you!

The first stage of GHS implementation, occurred on 1/6/2019, providing for outpatient healthcare, i.e. the provision of healthcare services by personal doctors and outpatient specialists, pharmacists and laboratories.

The second and final stage of GHS implementation, includes the provision of all remaining healthcare services, i.e. inpatient healthcare and services, services offered by allied health professionals (clinical dieticians, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, and clinical psychologists), nurses and midwifes, the accident and emergency departments, ambulance services, dentists, palliative healthcare services and medical rehabilitation services.

 Table: Contribution rates

For every natural person, the total maximum annual amount on which contributions will be paid is € 180,000.

In case that the natural person is not a tax resident of Cyprus, he/she will pay contributions only for the income, earnings and pensions that derive from the Republic of Cyprus, excluding dividends and interest. 

CATEGORIES OF BENEFICIARIES

1. Citizens Of The Republic Of Cyprus (RC)
2. European Union (EU) Citizens
3. Non-EU Citizens
4. Refugees And Persons With a Status Of Supplementary Protection
5. Beneficiaries’ Dependents
6. Other Categories

CONTRIBUTIONS –

Contributions for the second and final stage will start on 1/3/ 2020 and will include the complete implementation of the GHS.

*Contribution for employees will increase to 2.65% and for employers to 2.90%

A proposal has been put forward for a new law to allow landlords to seek the eviction of a tenant who fails to pay rent for 2 months (private residence) and 1 month (for commercial residence) by summary proceedings. According to the new law (to be put forward on 22/11/19) tenants will be obligated to prove that they have paid rent with the presentation of a receipt to the Court Registrar. Failure to do so will lead to ‘automatic’ in effect eviction. This will significantly simplify what is currently an onerous legal process that allows tenants to take advantage of lengthy proceedings, subject to many technicalities, which can be taken advantage of, to allow tenants to remain in premises without paying rent for years.  Another noteworthy aspect of the law is that it will specifically permit service by electronic means, a great step towards accepting the role of electronic media in today’s society.

Keep in touch with us to stay up to date with legal developments that affect you!

With the new legislative changes coming into force on 18.12.2019, the Registrar of Companies aim is more strict control over the late submission of the company’s annual report (HE32). 

The submitting of the annual return requires the audited financial statements for the respective financial year. In the event the auditors did not finalise and provide the Financial Statement and this leads to overdue submission. The Registrar imposes fines as follow:

• €50 for submissions after the 18.12.2019
• €1 for each day after the 18.12.2019
• €2 for each day for submissions delayed more than 6 months

*The maximum fine cannot exceed more than €500

With the current legislation the Annual Return fine is one time fine of €20 and the auditors were able to finalise financial statements up to 15 months after the end of the year, however with the new legislation that would limit the time to less than 12 months. Therefore, either many companies will pay fines, or the auditors will have to find a better way to support the process of submission of the Annual Return.

Today 30/10/2019 the Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Recipient has upgraded its website signaling the first of the promised actions to bring Cyprus Company Law and company management in line with Article 30 of the 4th European Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering or terrorist financing. The amendments to the Law on the Prevention and Fight against Money Laundering Law 2007 (Law 1888 (I) / 2007) which resulted from said Directive includes article 61 A which provides for the establishment and maintenance of a register of beneficial owners of corporate and other legal entities. It is intended that Member States of the EU will establish central registers which will be interconnected through the European Central Platform until 10 March 2021 (BRIS).

By the end of the 2019 it is expected that the Department of Registrar of Companies will introduce a register of corporate and other legal entities which will, in very basic terms, require the identification of the UBO’s of all companies and other legal entities registered in the Republic of Cyprus.

If you are the owner of a Cyprus company and are concerned about the proposed amendments to the Companies Law, contact one of our lawyers to discuss the most efficient structure, under what is intended to be a publicly accessible, transparent company ownership system.

When family relationships break down it is a traumatic and emotional experience for every member of that family. At our firm we seek compromise and solutions that place the interests of children and the family first.

Our philosophy is to help parties reach an out of court settlement on all matters ranging from contact and custody of underage children to the division of marital property so that parties do not get involved in drawn out legal proceedings and the family can heal and move forward.

Divorce unfortunately requires a court process but in recent months this has been simplified with applicants able to submit written statements as opposed to having to testify in open court. Where there is no objection and service can be achieved within a reasonable timeframe, we are able to see you through the process within 2 to 3 months. We are in favour of no-fault divorce but as this is not yet a legal reality, where possible we encourage our clients to see the breakdown of their relationships as being the responsibility of both parties and can see to the issue of a divorce that attributes responsibility equally to both parties and minimizes the emotional distress of divorce.

Contact one of our lawyers to arrange a meeting and discuss how we can help you best navigate this difficult path.  

Our law firm employs lawyers with extensive experience in a variety of legal matters, including the representation of persons who were involved in road accidents and/or fatal road accidents.

The aim of our lawyers is the proper evaluation of each case distinctly and through their experience and knowledge, they are able to provide immediate legal opinion to our clients who are visiting us and request our services in an attempt to recover the losses they have suffered as a result of third-party negligence.

What you need to know:

For your information, please be advised that the compensation you will be entitled to for your claim of personal injury, includes material and general damages as well as special damages of which the company of the insured driver of the car is obligated to pay for the accident.

The beneficiaries of a road accident who can claim compensation from the insurance company of the driver responsible for the road accident, can be the driver of the crashed car and its passengers and anyone who was involved in the car accident as a cyclist or a pedestrian. Therefore, if you are involved in car accident you must know that you need to contact immediately with the insurance company that you have registered your car with. It is important to collect as much information as you can for the identity of the other driver and/or owner of the car.

Please note that in the circumstances where we have injured people, we immediately call the Health Services and the Cyprus Police.

Avoid contacting either in person or over the phone with any representative and/or employee of the driver’s insurance company responsible for the accident and under no circumstances do not sign any document before having a consultation with the lawyers of our office.

The above is intended to provide a brief guide only and/or a general guide to the subject matter. It is essential that specialist advise should be sought about your specific circumstances.

For further information on this topic please contact Mr. Yianni Theoti (legal@jzenonos.com) at J & F Management Services
by landline (+357 25 312580) or by fax (+357 25 312560)