No.302
Q.: Mr. Loizou, along with many expats and I am sure
Cypriots too I greatly value your honest and expert
advice in your column. I am bothered by what seems to be
a proposal to abandon metering as the basis of water
rates in favour of a flat rate charge per household
thereby penalising the small households, the part time
residents and the careful in the use of this precious
resource and favouring the large households and
profligate users. In view of Cyprus's need for care in
the use of water is this not (if correctly reported) a
very bad idea? Is it aimed at squeezing more out of
expats and less out of locals? I would welcome your
views.
Gareth Edwards
Paphos
A.: My dear friend. How wrong can you get. There is
nothing of the sort. What is being discussed is the
water rate increase (approximately 10%-20%) and on the
same basis, since Cyprus is subsidizing its water and
the charge does not cover the water “production” cost
(per E.U. requirement). Many thanks for your comments.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29733-td
22.3.2010
No.303
Q.: I read your articles and letters page regularly in
the Cyprus Weekly and am taking this opportunity to
write to you.
My name is J. Ch. I have rented my hair salon in Zakaki
Court for the past 27 years, moving in when the building
was new, always paying my rent on time. Just over two
years ago I was told there would be major repairs needed
to the whole building. I heard nothing more until 10th
February 2010 when I received a letter (attached) from a
solicitor representing my landlord, giving me four
months notice to leave the premises in order undertake
renovations. I believe that many other tenants may
refuse to leave however, I am willing to abide by their
wishes and vacate the property be the end of June
provided I am compensated fairly.
I have cooperated with the lawyers and met up with them
twice. The first occasion it was mentioned to me that
they could find me alternative accommodation until the
work has been completed and that I would be compensated
for any inconvenience e.g. the cost of moving out and
moving back. However at the second meeting I was told
they do not have to find me alternative premises but
they have to allow me to rent my shop back after
renovations. Their suggestion was I find alternative
premises but they cannot tell me how long it will take
to renovate the building or when they intend to start.
They have said that the new rent in the completed
building will be three times the rent I pay now. They
also have said they only have to compensate me up to 18
months rent should I decide to leave and not return.
I agree that the building does need renovating as it is
unsafe because it has not been maintained over the years
by the landlord, the church. For example, lumps of
concrete fell from the 5th floor on to my balcony –
thankfully I was not on the balcony at the time or I may
not be alive to write to you today. Then again recently,
on 1st March, lumps of concrete fell at the front of
building landing on an awning in front of a shop. Again,
thankfully nobody was injured or killed! The shop owner
called the police at the time and a report was written.
So as a tenant, of course I am worried about my safety
and the safety of my clients and I am prepared to
co-operate.
I have met with the lawyers and tried to come to a
compromise asking them to consider the fact that I am a
sitting tenant of 27 years and for a more reasonable
compensation than only 18 months as their current offer
would not cover my costs of relocating and having to
replace any fixtures and fittings that cannot be moved.
I am still waiting for a reply from them.
My questions to you are:
1. Do they have the right to force me to leave the
premises?
2. Do they have the right to increase the rent more than
14% on completion of the renovations?
3. Legally do they only have to offer me 18th months
rent to leave? This does not seem a fair amount and I
feel I should receive more.
I feel I am being victimized and that the church is not
being reasonable, considering the fact that they are
asking me to co-operate but are not prepared to offer
anything more than the legal minimum and even then I
have not received any such offer in writing. We would
not be in this situation now if they had maintained the
property in the first place.
I hope you will be able to provide me with some hope!
Yours sincerely,
J. Ch.
A.: In order to make you leave the premises they must
secure a court order to evict you, but at the same time
ordering the landlord to repair and your right to
return. I think the landlord is confused on your rights.
You have the right to return with the same rent. Under
the rent control law they can ask for an increase of 8%
maximum and this for 2 years. If now the church in
addition to the repairs, they are undertaking “major”
alterations as these are described in the law i.e.
joining shops to make larger units etc, they will have a
difficult job to prove it. Even if they succeed you will
be entitled to return paying a “fair rent” i.e. the
market rent less 20%-30%. The 18 times the rent
compensation is more theoretical than actual. You might
be entitled for goodwill compensation (the 18 times the
rent + goodwill but this is paid only if you do no
return).
Use the services of a solicitor who is knowledgeable on
the Rent Control Acts. You have a lot to gain dear
reader.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29755-td
29.3.2010
No.304
Q.: Dear Mr. Loizou,
I am writing to you because someone living in an
apartment neighbouring my son's pre-school has been
threatening his teacher over the children playing
outside. The school is fully lisened and has been
operating there for over 20 years without any other
complaint.
When a couple moved into an apartment building next to
the school less than a year ago, they began to make the
teacher's life a misery. She has been very accomodating
keeping the children indoors during the times people are
most likely to be asleep in the afternoon.
Now the man is threatening to "get the political parties
involved." he has even convinced the mayor of the area
to visit the school but all he suggested was offering to
pay for the couple to have double-glazing installed.
Apart from teh unfairness of this, the teacher cannot
afford to do something like this.
The school supports four families and provides an
excellent service to the parents of 25 children. The
teacher's health, and that of her elderly mother who
lives in the upper level of the building housing the
school has also begun to suffer. Is there anything we
can do?
I look forward to your reply in The Cyprus Weekly.
Yours sincerley,
Athena Karsera Yiazou
A.: Difficult to say what to do Athena. If the school
creates a nuisance, there might be a problem. It depends
on ones attitudes for such matters, but if I was the
teacher I would let the neighbour sue for nuisance.
During the Court proceedings some sort of compromise may
be found. Surely keeping the children during siesta time
indoor is one option, as is the double glazing, but, if
no money available on the teacher’s side, she will have
a difficulty. Has the teacher approached the Ministry of
Education for any assistance/ideas on this?
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29746-td
29.3.2010
No.305
Q.: We have all sorts of foreign (third countries)
people knocking at our door asking us for work in the
garden, cleaning etc. They ask for very little money and
we use them regularly for the garden, but our neighbour
told us that if we employ such people we must be careful
if they are illegal workers we might find ourselves
liable under the law, including 2 months prison, fine
etc. Any truth in this?
J & A Mackanne
A.: Thank your neighbour for his sound advice. This is
correct. But, having said that, unless there is a report
against you, I will not bother (but the risk is on you).
I consider this sort of casual work as being a charity
to those unfortunate people, who work under extreme
conditions, for a pay next to nothing in order to
survive. However the law is there and should you choose
to “ignore” it, you do have a chance to be liable.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29768-td
29.3.2010
No.306
Q.: I apologize for my ignorance Mr Loizou, but I note
that houses have sometime a side staircase leading onto
the roof. I find this strange since a ladder/ steel
staircase would do just find and cost 1/10th of the
“proper” concrete staircase. Any reason for doing this?
Allan Magillan
A.: A reasonable question to ask Allan. In this sort of
cases the owner has in mind to add a first floor on top.
So it is logical to build a staircase based on the
foundation/staircase of the ground floor house rather
than build the staircase afterwards.
Have I set your mind at rest?
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29769-td
29.3.2010
No.307
Q.: Dear Mr Loizou and the Editor of this lovely paper.
Should you not ask for a minimum fee for your Q+A column
say €10/letter? This will improve your finances and it
will be a cause to expand this Q+A column, which, as you
say, is limited due to lack of income. We need to know
more but not for nothing.
Leslie Shark
A.: What a lovely idea. I am proposing this to the
Editor since as far as I am concerned, I will keep doing
this for nothing. But, I do agree with you, we need more
space. Editor’s response awaited.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29766-td
29.3.2010
No.308
Q.: Easter in Cyprus Mr Loizou and we want to be “in”
with the locals. We have been given so many “flaouna”
that we feel we must reciprocate. So there we atre, we
ordered from our local bakery the local flaouna but he
has produced for us flaouna with (kannaouri) pot seeds!!
Suddenly we are concerned if we are accused in promoting
the drug business!!
(name withheld)
A.: My dear friends. Do not worry, these are indeed
cooked pot seeds and there is nothing better than having
a flaouna with these pot seeds. I love it and I aim for
it. Do not worry and go ahead, use your local baker.
Have a nice Easter.
A.P. Loizou
3/29767-td
30.3.2010
No.309
Q.: How right you are Mr Loizou. The most important
factor when moving to another country you said, is to
learn the language. We have tried and it was impossible
to achieve it despite the fact that we have employed an
enthusiastic teacher (2 times per week – 2
hours/session). It was not possible since people even if
we addressed the locals in Greek, they reply in English
(being polite we suppose). So following your advice we
moved to Akaki village, approximately ½ hour drive out
of Nicosia. In 3 months we can have a reasonable
conversation with the locals and being a non-touristic
area, neither a town, people are beyond our expectations
in terms of friendship and good neighbourliness. We even
learn to play tavli (backgammon) at the local village
café. My husband is now a member of the Council of the
local football club (our financial contribution has
helped) and now Giorgos (George) and Eleni (Helen) is
one of the village members. We even participate in the
local fiestas (Xmas and now Easter) with lots of fun.
Thank you for your advice which has changed our lives in
this village.
Giorgos & Eleni (ex U.K.)
A.: Thank you for doing this but as you say it takes a
special kind of people to be away from towns and the
beach. All the best in your new life my friends.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29756-td
30.3.2010
No.310
Q.: I am a reader fun of you Mr Loizou and I have your
writings in file. I noted in a recent reader’s question
that you are suggesting a plastic grass in terms of the
real thing. Surely you cannot be serious. Please
explain.
Louis Larkson
A.: The reader’s question was about a 30 sq.mts. grass
and he was worried about the water and maintenance cost
(referring to a holiday house, he needed to have a
gardener to cut the grass etc etc). Sorry for upsetting
you dear Louis, but under these circumstances in this
case my suggestion makes in my opinion a lot of sense –
What do you think?
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29761-td
30.3.2010
Νο.311
Q.: Dear Mr Loizou. I must thank you for all the very
useful information that you and this lovely paper offers
to the public. I have a question for you which it is an
open ended one, but as I am told so many conflicting
information I need a “doctor’s” advice. I am buying a 20
year old house which it is in a very good condition, but
obviously the finishes are outdated and I suspect
plumping etc must need replacement, the kitchen is
outdated as are the wardrobes etc. It is a house of
approximately 400 sq.mts. What is your estimated cost to
bring the house up to a top quality and updated fitting
to present day living requirement?
Larry K.
A.: Indeed an open ended question dear Larry. Assuming
that you will need new floors, new kitchen, wardrobes,
plumping etc, I would estimate a cost of around €200.000
in terms of building contract.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29758-td
30.3.2010
Νο.313
Q.: You have a monthly newsletter I understand, yet how
can we access to it? We watch your writings but a
newsletter is yet most informative.
Theo & Penny
A.: Our website has it, please refer to it. It includes
the articles, the t.v. programs, the Q+A column etc. So
that there is no misunderstanding, there is no charge
for it my friends.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29762-td
31.3.2010
No.314
Q.: Unfortunately we are getting a divorce and we have
agreed that we appoint you as joint valuers for our real
estate in Cyprus. Is this the sort of ……. Your firm can
do? Your writings in the paper are so reasonable and
caring that we feel confident without ……. you that we
have the right man for the job.
(name withheld)
A.: We carry out approximately 20 cases p.a. for the
British Courts in these cases and we know what it is
involved. Firstly let me say that I am sorry that you
are getting a divorce, but life is not always rosy.
Thank you for your confidence in me and you can
communicate with me in an email to take the matter
forward.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou
3/29760-td
30.3.2010
www.aloizou.com.cy
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