Cyprus housing grants for mountain, border and disadvantaged areas.
Two revised housing schemes (Στεγαστικά Σχέδια) run by the Ministry of Interior support the acquisition of a permanent home in mountainous, border and disadvantaged areas, and in specified rural areas.
Last reviewed: 6 September 2026
A state grant towards a permanent home in a village community.
This is a government scheme administered by the Ministry of Interior. It is not a Lextrus product and Lextrus plays no role in assessing or approving applications.
There are two schemes: one for the revitalisation of mountainous, border (ακριτικές) and disadvantaged areas, and one for specified rural areas. The revised versions came into force on 2 March 2026 under the 2026–2027 scheme guide published by the Ministry of Interior on gov.cy.
The grant supports acquiring a home for permanent own-occupation (μόνιμη ιδιοκατοίκηση). It is not available for investment or rental property.
Grant amounts, income thresholds and the list of designated communities are revised with each edition of the scheme. We deliberately do not republish them here, because a figure copied today becomes wrong tomorrow. Always take the current figures from the official gov.cy scheme guide.
Wider access and higher support.
The revision of 2 March 2026 made several structural changes.
- Grant amounts have been increased.
- Income eligibility thresholds have been increased.
- The requirement for a minimum period of continuous permanent residence in the Republic has been removed for Cypriot citizens, repatriates and permanent residents.
- The schemes can now be combined with energy-upgrade grant schemes of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry.
227 designated areas across three zones.
Support is geographically targeted. The level of support depends on which application zone the community falls into.
- 227 designated areas and communities are covered in total.
- They are grouped into three geographic application zones: A, B and C.
- Zone C covers 130 communities, including five border areas.
The full list of communities and the support applicable to each zone is published by the Ministry of Interior. Read the official scheme guide on gov.cy →
Domestic buyers settling permanently in these communities.
Eligibility centres on Cypriot citizens, repatriates and permanent residents. International buyers acquiring investment or holiday property will generally not qualify.
Principles
- The property must be acquired for permanent own-occupation.
- The home must be in one of the designated areas or communities.
- Eligibility is income-assessed against thresholds set in the current scheme guide.
- Applications are submitted to, and assessed by, the District Administration (Επαρχιακή Διοίκηση).
Who is excluded
- An applicant who has previously received state housing assistance is not eligible.
- An applicant who has previously received assistance from the Cyprus Land Development Corporation (ΚΟΑΓ) is not eligible.
- For couples, this exclusion applies if either partner has previously received such assistance.
- Property acquired for investment, rental or seasonal use is outside the schemes.
Nothing on this page confirms that any particular reader will qualify. Only the District Administration can assess an application against the scheme criteria in force at the time of submission.
2019 to 2025.
Figures published for the period before the current revision.
Applications submitted between 2019 and 2025
Applications approved
Approximate total granted
From a village property to a submitted application.
The sequence below is practical guidance on order of work, not a substitute for the official procedure.
- 01
Confirm that the community you are considering is on the current list of designated areas.
- 02
Read the current scheme guide on gov.cy for grant amounts, income thresholds and required documents.
- 03
Check whether an energy-upgrade grant from the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry can be combined with your application.
- 04
Submit your application to the District Administration of the relevant district and await their assessment.
- 05
Speak to Lextrus about finding, valuing or selling property in these communities — separately from the grant process itself.
Looking for a home in a mountain or village community?
We can search the designated mountain, border and rural communities for property suited to permanent occupation, and arrange viewings.
Find property in these areasSelling in a mountain or village community?
Buyers in these communities may be able to draw on state support, which widens the pool of people who can afford your property. We can value it and take it to that market.
Request a valuationThis page is general information about a government scheme, not legal, tax or financial advice, and not an offer of state support. Scheme terms change: always confirm the current position with the Ministry of Interior scheme guide on gov.cy and with the District Administration before making a decision.