Government faces delays in ktiZO housing scheme due to inhabitant dispute

Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou reported significant delays in the government's 'ktiZO' housing scheme during a session of the House Interior Committee on October 13, 2026. The program, which aims to demolish unsafe refugee apartment blocks and replace them with new buildings, is currently hindered by an inhabitant who is not a legal beneficiary. This individual is refusing to vacate his flat unless the state pays him 500,000 euros, a sum he claims covers his previous renovation expenses. Minister Ioannou highlighted the dilemma, noting that if the government forcibly removes the occupant, it faces potential public backlash, while allowing him to remain stalls critical construction work.

Responding to parliamentary criticism regarding the slow progress—where only one block has been completed in three years—Ioannou clarified that five additional blocks are scheduled for completion by 2028. He further addressed proposals for the state to manage construction directly, explaining that it cannot intervene in private property once title deeds have been issued to refugees. For context, the market value of the newly constructed apartments in Latsia is estimated at 250,000 euros. The minister emphasized that public discourse and individual resistance continue to impede the timeline of the infrastructure project.