The Management of Government Lands Sector is responsible for the management of immovable property owned by the Government in accordance with the principles governing property management and the existing laws and regulations. The aim is the best possible management of the Republic's immovable property, within the framework of the government's aims and objectives, mainly taking into account the service of the public interest.

 The Sector examines applications concerning the granting or leasing of government land, the exchange of government land with private property, the granting of right to use government land or a public river, pursuant to the Immovable Property of the Republic (Disposal) Regulations 1989-2017, as amended (ΚΔΠ 173/89), as well as the vesting or disposal of government land for various governmental or other purposes of public interest. Such applications are referred to the competent Committee of Ministers for consideration and decision-making.

In addition, following the delegation of the power of the Council of Ministers to the Director of the Department of Lands and Surveys, through Κ.Δ.Π 577/2005 and Κ.Δ.Π 377/2016, the Director has the authority to take decisions on a specific type of applications, pursuant to Section 18 of the Immovable Property (Tenure, Registration and Valuation), Cap. 224.

Furthermore, this Sector investigates and prepares reports on encroachments on government land, public road/river, which are then referred to the Chief of Police and/or the District Officer and/or the Attorney General of the Republic for legal action against encroachers who fail or refuse to abandon encroachments. Also, in cooperation with the CAPO, a procedure for the submission of applications by illegal holders of government agricultural land has been established since 2019.

 There are officers of the Sector who represent the Department on various committees and participate in meetings regarding the adoption, promotion and implementation of government plans and projects, and on legislation, policy and housing issues.

The Sector conducts the legal and technical preparation of Lease/ Right of Use of Government Land Agreements, and their monitoring ensuring, thus, that Lessees comply with the terms included in such Lease/ Right of Use Agreements.

The Sector receives approximately 1,000 applications per year from all over Cyprus, and these are processed by the Sector staff accordingly. It is also responsible for the legal and technical preparation of the Lease/ Right of Use Agreements and monitors that the Lessees/Owners of the Right of Use comply with the terms of their Agreements, for approximately 3,500 Lease/ Right of Use Agreements.

In case of lease agreements involving economic/commercial activity, which have been found by the Commissioner for Government Aid Control to constitute government aid under the existing Government Aid Control Law, the Department -on the instructions of the Commissioner- negotiates with the affected lessees with a view to amend or terminate these agreements and conclude new agreements in accordance with the above-mentioned legislation. Furthermore, with respect to the rights of use that constitute public aid, the Department is already taking the necessary steps to terminate them and grant new rights, upon payment of an annual market fee.

In recent years, there has been a trend of non-payment of rents by Tenants and as a result, the Management of Government Lands Sector has been sending constant notices and initiating legal actions for the collection of the overdue rents, through the Attorney General of the Republic. There were cases where it has even terminated the agreements. In the long term, the process of monitoring both the terms of the agreements and the payment of rents shall be conducted and monitored through the upgraded software.

Under the relevant legislation, the Sector, and by extension the Department, has the responsibility to advise the Government on general policy issues and to express its opinions/suggestions, as the competent Department, on the disposal of government property by the in view of the public interest and for other public benefit purposes.

The Department proceeded with a proposal to amend the applicable regulations in order to manage and protect the government land more rationally, which was eventually withdrawn on instructions of the Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry. Therefore, the Department will be making new recommendations for updating/amending the Regulations so as to bring them in line with the current needs of the society.