Νο.278
Q.: Dear Mr Loizou,
We read with great interest your weekly feature in the
Cyprus Weekly, and we now find that we have an issue
that we hope you will be able to help us with.
We have recently taken possession of an apartment in
Tala which we purchased off plan in 2007. The style of
the apartments are effectively detached villa style with
1 or 2 bedded dwellings in each block. We have relocated
and now live here.
Whilst we were out a few days ago, we returned to find
that the Developer had erected the Company signage and
name of the complex on the gable end wall of our
apartment. We contacted the after sales team at the
Developers, and their reply was that we do not own the
outside wall and we should be privilaged to live on such
a beautiful complex. We did respond to this and register
our dismay at not being consulted in any way and
suggested alternative places that the signage could be
placed. We have nothing in our contract or any other
document that suggests that they can just place these
signs on our wall. We have asked them to forward
documents that say we do not own our outside wall, we
have also suggested that if we do not own the outside
walls then surely we will not have to pay for any
maintenance of them, but as yet have had no further
response from them.
We are the only people living on the complex.
Could you please advise us if we have a case against the
Developer for them to remove their signage and repair
any damage to our walls, or pay us for advertising, or
are the Developers in fact correct that indeed we do not
own the outside walls and they can do exactly as they
please? If this is the case then surely they should be
responsible for the maintenance of them, but again we
have nothing in writing to state this.
I do hope that you can reply to this issue and help
clarify matters for us, or would you suggest we contact
our Solicitor.
Kind Regards
Joy & Mike Harris
A.: I do not agree with the developer. The external wall
is surely not his, since he sold you the apartment and
surely your purchase included the external wall!! Your
point that it should be the developer’s responsibility
to monitor etc is a reasonable reply. Take legal action
if he does not come to his senses.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29624-td (8.2.2010)
No.279
Q.: Dear Mr. Loizou,
may I make some comments on your answer to the reader's
question about photovoltaics?
Coming from Germany to Cyprus, I always was wondering,
why over here it is not common or even the law to put
those panels to new buildings.
So I started to look into the matter, if it is
worthwhile to invest in my house for this issue.
Unfortunately I found out, it's not. Starting with the
cost for a "normal house", they would be around 30.000,-
EUR minimum. With the fee, the EAC is giving you for the
electricity produced, your pay back period is about
15-20 years. Not mentioning the hazzle, until you have
all the permits from the EAC and the local authorities
to place the panels - provided you have enough space on
your roof or elsewhere on your plot. But of course the
E-Lobby is not interested in having everybody their own
power plant, as the profits they make, would drop a lot.
It's a shame, but reality is, everybody (politicians
especially) is talking about global warming, emissions
and protecting the environment, but as soon as it comes
to give incentives on green energy you will face a wall
of ignorance for the above mentioned reasons. So I'm
afraid on this lovely island, that has ideal conditions
for solar energy with more than 300 sunny days a year,
we will keep on burning imported oil instead of
producing our own green energy (the windpark to be built
is just a drop on the hot stone and only being built
because of the EU-pressure on Cyprus).
Concerning the "prettyness" of solar panels, I would say
they are not so ugly, especially compared to all the
water tanks on the roofs and the split units outside the
walls. Nowadays, photovoltaic panels are included in the
outside design of buildings, even integrated in the
windows they are produced. And it looks quite good, not
to mention the respect the owner of the buildings earn,
as everybody can see, they are really doing something
instead of only talking for decades.
Please excuse my bad English, as I'm not a native
speaker and keep up your good work which I apreciate
very much.
Best Regards
Peter Häussler
A.: Thank you for your views Peter. I have another
letter from a reader on the subject which you can read.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29625-td
8.2.2010
www.aloizou.com.cy
www.aloizou.ro
www.aloizou.ru
ala-HQ@aloizou.com.cy
