Confusion once again as to semi-outdoor spaces

Not a word in Parliament from Nikos Sifounakis, who ensures that there will be no retroactive payment of taxes.

An increase of between 15 to 20% occurs in the turnout for the settlement of semi-open spaces with a daily volume of transactions reaching around 4,500.

According to the deputy minister of the Environment, Nikos Sifounakis, this new regulation has brought on a great response from people since in mid-September they filed about 75,000 applications, while at the end of November the number went up to 238,000.

The ministry is clearing up the foggy landscape around any possible tax charges that might have come from this regulation. So for the retained areas there are no back taxes due, while for the property tax and the declaration of property, the spaces are taken into account as they were before their settlement. Finally, it is clear that the change of use will not affect the calculation of state taxes.

But there is no mention as to whether the semi-open spaces will be added to the living inferences, as the ministry of Finance is carrying forward a relevant regulation.

These pressures were recently revealed by the minister of Environment, Ms Tina Birbili.

In an attempt to relieve the services, the ministry gave a two-month extension (to December 28th) for the mailing of statements, while extending the repayment period in installments. The relevant legislation was passed in Parliament on Wednesday.

For residential properties, the specific fine will be paid in 10 installments instead of 6, and the total repayment period of the fine is increased from 18 to 30 months.

For buildings of other uses (except for residential properties), the installments of the specific penalty have been increased from 6 to 8, and the repayment period has been extended from 24 to 32 months. The conversion date for the use of the site must be prior to the date of application.