Can my landlord evict me in Cyprus?
It depends: yes, but only through a court order — self-help is illegal. Jurisdiction splits: statutory tenancies go to the Rent Control Court, ordinary contractual ones to the District Court. For statutory tenants, the grounds are exhaustively listed in Article 11 of the Rent Control Law of 1983. Non-payment: rent must be in arrears more than 21 days after a written notice, and the tenant can still avoid eviction by paying within 14 days of the eviction application being filed. A court order is always required. In short: not arbitrarily, only via court.
📋 The rules
- Statutory tenants: Rent Control Court
- Grounds: exhaustively in Article 11
- Non-payment: arrears >21 days + notice
- Tenant saved by paying within 14 days
- Always a court order before eviction
🔓 Exceptions
- Eviction for self-occupation/rebuild: possible compensation
- Systematic late payment: a ground (recent amendments)
- Overholding tenant after termination: criminal liability (case-law)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Self-help eviction is unlawful — a landlord who changes locks, removes belongings or cuts utilities to force a tenant out can face civil liability and criminal sanctions. Expedited eviction proceedings typically take ~5–7 months. Beware a myth: "if a tenant stops paying, the landlord can just change the locks" is false — eviction always requires a court order; locking out a tenant is illegal in Cyprus. Tip: a tenant can stop a non-payment eviction by paying within 14 days of the application being filed.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Can the landlord evict me?
Only by court order. For statutory tenants, eviction is allowed only on a ground exhaustively listed in Article 11 of the Rent Control Law, such as non-payment, nuisance, breach of terms or a genuine need for self-occupation. Self-help is illegal.
Which court has jurisdiction?
It depends on the type of tenancy. Statutory tenancies go to the Rent Control Court, while ordinary contractual tenancies go to the District Court. In either case, a court order is required before any eviction.
What applies to non-payment of rent?
Rent must be in arrears more than 21 days after a written notice for this eviction ground to apply. The tenant can still avoid eviction by paying the arrears within 14 days of the eviction application being filed.
Can the landlord change the locks?
No. Self-help eviction is unlawful. A landlord who changes locks, removes belongings or cuts utilities to force a tenant out faces civil liability and criminal sanctions. Eviction must always go through the court.
How long does eviction take?
Expedited eviction proceedings typically take about five to seven months. For statutory tenants evicted so the landlord can self-occupy or rebuild, compensation may be payable, especially for business premises.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “evict tenant cyprus”
- “rent control court cyprus”
- “eviction non-payment rent cyprus”
- “change locks tenant cyprus”
- “article 11 rent control cyprus”
- “eviction process cyprus”