The government’s ambitious plan to transfer the Building Services (YDOM) from the municipalities to the Cadastre is being pushed back, following strong reactions from Local Government.
At a time when the housing crisis is a top issue for most households, the smooth operation of the building services is critical for the construction sector, and for increasing the country’s housing stock.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN) had scheduled the launch of the model building services under the new organizational scheme for early July, as part of their transfer from the municipalities to the central government, through the Cadastre and the new EOKED body.
The full rollout of the system had been scheduled for the first days of 2027.
Why it is running into obstacles
However, the reform, which had been announced by the prime minister, is running into obstacles. KEDΕ has stated that the municipalities are “categorically opposed” to the move, stressing that it will proceed with appeals to the Council of State (StE) if the measure is implemented.
What the municipalities say
According to the Ministry’s plan, the municipalities will retain responsibilities for local urban planning, namely the preparation and monitoring of urban planning studies, redevelopments and city plan extensions, and the management of public and public-benefit spaces, among other things.
Something, however, that is disputed by the municipalities, which argue that in practice the role of both the citizen and local government in urban planning matters is being weakened.
In the market, industry professionals report that the establishment of EOKED, which will operate as a one-stop shop for all matters concerning real estate, is moving in the right direction.
However, there are many who argue that the problem of the YDOMs is not their administrative subordination, but understaffing with experienced personnel and the lack of a clear legislative framework.
It is being moved to the “next period”
At YPEN, sources tell Euro2day.gr that this is a complex reform, which the Ministry continues to prepare. The “next period” is when the model services are expected to become operational, the information adds, without, however, providing a new timetable.
The changes at YPEN
Of course, significant changes in YPEN’s staffing were recorded recently, which may also have affected the preparation of the measure. On the one hand, at the end of May there was the loss of Deputy Minister of Environment Nikos Tagaras, who had oversight of the reform.
A few weeks later, the Secretary General for Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Efthymios Bakogiannis, one of the critical figures of YPEN and its reform work, resigned; he is reportedly directly linked to the ring that was identified in urban planning services in northern Attica.
What the new body will do
The new body is taking on the recording, documentation and guarantee of ownership, the issuance of building permits and all related acts (certificates of building terms, pre-approvals), the inspection of constructions and the enforcement of urban planning legislation.