Politis

The Registry of Torment: Waiting Lists of Up to 16 Years!

Published February 17, 2026, 09:22
The Registry of Torment: Waiting Lists of Up to 16 Years!

Completing tasks at the Land Registry is characterized by huge delays, with waiting lists reaching up to 16 years. Applications for surveying work require at least 17 months of waiting, while boundary disputes can take over 10 years to process. This situation is due to increased workload and insufficient staffing, resulting in citizen hardship and loss of public revenue. Attorney General Andreas Papakonstantinou points out the need for a fundamental change in mentality and approach, with the aim of an efficient, transparent, and modern public administration. His report paints a bleak picture of the state of hardship prevailing at the Land Registry, emphasizing the need to modernize procedures and establish clear timelines. In addition, serious problems are identified regarding state land, which is often at the mercy of fraudsters. The lack of control and slow processing of cases create opportunities for illegal activities and loss of public funds. The Audit Office proposes a series of measures to address the problems, such as increasing staff, improving procedures, and strengthening controls. The implementation of these measures is essential to improve the functioning of the Land Registry and better serve citizens.