Renters rights in Cyprus: what they are and how to use them

The Cyprus real estate market is very dynamic. Dozens of properties are sold or rented daily. And that generates a great movement of people and money. Both the resale properties market and the rental market motivate you to take particular care.

Especially when renting a property: be it a villa, a studio or an apartment. Renters need to know that they have a wide range of rights to assert in complicated situations. The tenants' rights allow guaranteeing that someone has a safe and dignified place to live.

Among these rights, we find:

• You should be treated fairly when applying for an apartment.
• A department cannot be denied based on race, national origin, sex, age, religion, family status, and physical or mental issues.
• Today, gender identity and sexuality have an important place among these rights.
• An owner cannot tell you that a property is no longer available when it is.
• A potential renter should know if their rental application was rejected because of a bad credit report.
• What if you feel that your rights have been violated? Very simple: you can file the claim with the corresponding government office if you think you were discriminated against in any of these terms.
• With all this, it is good to know that the landlord has to adhere to the stipulated terms in the contract.
• This contract is nothing more than a legal agreement.
• Therefore, it is essential to read them so as not to be surprised later.
• For example, if the contract indicates specific deadlines for notifications or increases, these must be respected.
• Now, how do you proceed if the tenant's rights are violated? For now, the first thing to do is talk to the property owner.
• If this is not enough, you should send a document letter indicating the problem and suggestions on how to solve it.
• If this is still insufficient, the matter should be dealt with in the local courts.
• The contract and its exceptions
• The tenant must know that he will always have in his favour the possibility of breaking the contract.
• He indeed has to follow the rules and guidelines provided in the agreement.
• But he can rescind it as soon as he wishes.
• Usually, a mule is provided for whoever makes this decision.
• As an estate agent who works a lot with viotopo often says: "what you have to pay, you always have to pay." If I consider that if you break a contract, this can create a bad credit history.
• The right to tranquillity
• All renters have the right to live in a place where it feels good and is pleasant.
• This means that you are not interrupted by annoying noise or a neighbour or landlord who rings your doorbell daily.
• Of course, it is an implicit agreement between the parties, so it should not be contemplated in the contract.
• But it is good that the parties understand it this way.
• For now, if someone violates this right, the main thing is to resolve it through dialogue.
• However, if this does not prosper, it will only happen to other instances.
• These can range from being transferred to another department to resorting to the local justice to resolve the situation.
• Right to live in a safe property
• Undoubtedly, property in Cyprus has to be a healthy and safe place.
• Virtually all Cyprus houses are, but there are exceptions.
• That said, keep in mind that the house's condition is optimal: the quality of the floors, walls, wiring and other important issues that can be a problem for the safety and life of the renters.
• These issues also have to do with locks, windows, and the condition of appliances and smoke detectors.
• Always keep in mind that all this has to be stipulated in the contracts.
• However, it is the best way to have everything agreed upon and thus avoid unpleasant situations in the future.