Second chance on old licenses – Everything you want to know in 10+3 questions – answers

Thousands of building permits issued mainly in the 80s and 90s have already expired. As a result, many of these owners who did not have the financial means to complete the construction work, cannot proceed today to complete the work on their buildings with these permits.

It is noted that the completion of unfinished constructions is a complicated process, both in terms of its licensing and its implementation. And this is because it is governed by strict urban planning provisions and deadlines that, if not respected, can make a building even arbitrary.

“TA NEA” with the help of surveyor-urban planner engineer Secretary Baklatsis presents through 13 questions – answers all the necessary information so that interested owners know what they must do in order to complete their property without it ending up arbitrary.

In the meantime, in an effort to make it easier for owners, a draft law of the Ministry of the Environment foresees an extension of building permits until the end of 2025 with a regulation promoted through the draft law of the Ministry of the Environment.

In particular, the extension will concern the newer building permits issued or extended by laws 4495/2017 (Control and protection of the Built Environment and other Provisions), 4030/2011 (New Method of Issuing Building Permits and Other Provisions) after December 31, 2017 and 4495/2017 until December 30, 2021.

When is the extension (for an indefinite period) of the building permit valid?

An extension of the validity of a building permit for an indefinite period is granted if, until the expiry of the validity of the permit or its revision act, the bearing body, the facades of the building and the roof of the building, where this is mandatory, have been completed, and if the owner and the supervising engineer of the project submit a signed progress schedule of the project’s execution to the competent YDOM (Urban Planning).

What is restarting the build with notification?

It concerns an unfinished building in which, in order to continue the work of any phase, the owner must inform the Town Planning Office in writing before any start or continuation of the work.

Which building is involved in the execution of additional works with notification?

It concerns the building whose building permit has expired and its owner wants to carry out additional works or additions that are not included in the building permit.

What is foreseen for the aforementioned case?

In this case, the notification statement is submitted electronically and entered in the electronic license file before the start of these works.

In the notification all the additional works to be carried out are mentioned and within a period of two months a complete supplementary study is submitted.

In any case, this study must be submitted before the date of autopsy by the controlling engineer provided for by the building permit application control procedure.

What if the additional work notice is not filed on time?

If the notification of execution of additional works is not submitted in a timely manner, these additional works are recorded as arbitrary or as urban planning violations, depending on the category to which they fall, and a stoppage of construction work is imposed.

By when do the owners have to finish the facades of the building?

All facades of the buildings must be finished for reasons of aesthetics of the city and safety within six years from the date of issuance of the corresponding building permit, regardless of the progress of the works inside the buildings.

What is provided in detail by the law depending on the area where the property is located?

The following apply: a) Completion within four years of the implementation of the carrying organization, as evidenced by the conclusion of the building inspector in constructions located in city centers, in traditional parts of cities, in traditional settlements, in areas of special natural beauty, in archaeological sites, as well as in historical places.

b) Completion within six years of the implementation of the carrying organization evidenced by the conclusion of the building inspector in constructions located in all other areas.

What happens when the owners are unable to complete the work?

In the event that the facades cannot be completed, the owners must inform the town planner in writing and submit a relevant study to the Architecture Council for the constructions that must be made to cover the building.

What does the study include?

The study includes a technical report with a description of constructions, accompanied by indicative views.

These structures are allowed to be of any material consistent with the case, such as wooden panels, perforated sheet metal surfaces, composite structures with uprights and filling the voids with wood, shiplap or any other material deemed by the Architectural Council that:

a) is aesthetically harmonious with the environment.

b) aesthetically upgrades the surrounding area and c) has a construction structure such that the safety of citizens is ensured.

It is noted that the aforementioned constructions, after the submission of the study, must be carried out within the prescribed time limit, in order to cover the facades of the building.

What happens when the owner is indifferent and leaves his building unfinished in public view?

In case of non-submission of a study or non-implementation of this by the owner, an annual maintenance fine is imposed, the amount of which, the enforcement procedure and any other related matter are determined by a decision of the Minister of Environment and Energy.