CyprusLiving

Hi,
Has anyone else living in Peyia received a statement/bill from the sewerage board asking for payment by 31/3/2014? We are not aware of pegia being connected to the main sewers now or in the foreseeable future, we understand discussions are still ongoing? Has works begun somewhere that we dont know about? Many thanks.

Have recently been to the developer to gain title deeds. We were charged for sewer for 2013 and 2014 - 52.50 e for each year.

They said after we received our deeds, we would begin to receive yearly bills.

Even though work is not done yet, they ARE collecting.

Next shoe to drop - connection fees!!

Harry W.

Thanks for that....................... I find it incredible that payment is being asked for something that has not yet or indeed may not happen for a long time?

We got this bill this morning. 18 euros each. We have had our title deeds for a couple of years, so nothing to do with that. It's the first time we've had the bill, so I would be interested for any feedback as well. Presume if we are being charged we can put the paper down the loo............oh no, that'll be when we have paid to be connected to the system that isn't even laid in Peyia yet...........

We received a bill this morning for 74 euros. Never had one before. How can they charge for a service we don't receive?

Steve, probably because they want the money to do the work, and the fact that Brits usually pay bills so that they don't fall foul of the system. Interesting too the variance in costs.

Jackie

Yes Jackie, we are in a 2 bed town house so not large by any means.

I live in Peyia and have just received my first sewerage bill, although we are not connected.
The details are as follows .
It is based on my 50% share of the property and the 1980 title deeds valve.
It is charged at 3.3 Euros per 1000 Euros of my share of the 1980 value.
Cost to me will be 47.85 Euros for my share and the same for the wife.

regards Tony Peyia

Hi
I was paying sewerage tax annually when I had a property in Chlorakas in 2001

I live in Chloraka for seven years and never been asked to pay a sewerage bill , just a small charge for street lighting and " road sweeping " [ which has only happened twice in seven years]
Lefkes

Live in Middle Peyia and haven't had a bill from the Sewage Board. Interesting situation in that if you didn't pay it, because your not getting the facility, they couldn't cut you off could they? Quite happy with the septic tank.

My Cypriot neighbours won't be paying, nor will the owners of all the empty apartments and villas.

I am not going to rush to pay this, there won't be any refunds if the scheme never goes ahead.

If you look at the maps shown on the Paphos Sewerage Boards website, Pegia isn't included, neither is Tala. it's therefore doubtful that the legislation required to extend the system has even been passed by parliament!

http://www.sapa.org.cy/index.php?option ... 18&lang=en

Lefkes, I am suprised that you have never had a bill from SABA. Have you had your title deeds because the bill is issued to those named on the deeds? I did not receive a bill when I first arrived in Chloraka in 2003 but that was because I didn't get my deeds until a couple of years later. Mind you, the previous owner did forward the bills on to me for payment (including the fines for late payment!!!) Although the sewers have been in place for some time, still not connected to them yet. Still get the bill every year. You might get a shock with a bill for those seven years plus fines for not paying as you are required to pay by law!!

I thought all property owners who can connect to the new sewerage system had, by law, to make the connection (& pay the exorbitant fee for so doing!) Check out the SABA website link on my earlier post.

You can only connect to the sewage system when you are told you can. That hasn't happened yet so no-one in our area has yet.

Rav4 man, yes you are correct, we are still waiting our title deeds, 10 years now and it is highly unlikely that our builder is paying any of charges on our behalf so we may get a shock one day.!!
Lefkes

Also,if you ever want to sell,you have to get a stamped declaration from SABA (behind Penelopes Palace)stating that all sewerage charges have been paid.We had our title deeds.

Peyia Council have elected to proceed with the mains sewerage for Peyia and invoices are being issued by SAPA/SBP now. It is estimated that householders will be paying for the next 25-30 years! Peyia being a municipality will not qualify for any Government funding. Peyia Council has asked SAPA to hold the money received from Peyia homeowners in a separate account.

Re Tala, the Council have voted not to proceed with the mains sewerage system. However, SAPA are issuing invoices to homeowners despite the fact that no study, survey or costings have been carried out for the Tala project and the Council and residents rightly feel that the terrain means that a road based mains sewerage system is not appropriate for them. Tala are a council, not a municipality, and therefore qualify for an 80% funding from the Government - however, the Government has no money and will not have until at least 2016. Tala residents have been asked by their council not to pay any invoice received from SAPA/SBP and to submit such an invoice together with an objection letter to Tala Council. Suggested objection letter can be obtained by email from [email protected].

Anyone awaiting title deeds, beware as developers are charging sewerage and IPT for 2014 now - some developers are removing the sewerage charge if asked. Re the IPT for 2014, the Government has not yet announced how this will be calculated this year [possibly it will be based on current market value instead of current 1980 value but this creates problems when property values are falling, month by month!] and a report has been commissioned on combining the various property charges but this will not be available for a couple of months.

Cathi wrote:Peyia Council have elected to proceed with the mains sewerage for Peyia and invoices are being issued by SAPA/SBP now. It is estimated that householders will be paying for the next 25-30 years! Peyia being a municipality will not qualify for any Government funding. Peyia Council has asked SAPA to hold the money received from Peyia homeowners in a separate account

Can you please provide a link to the legislation authorising Pegia Municipality to collect this money from property owners?

Received bills this morning for our house in Peiya - one for myself and a separate one for my wife 97 Euro each!! The 'notes' on the back of the bill indicate the legislation that allows them to charge a 20% surcharge, if the bill is not paid, but there is no reference to any legislation that allows them to charge for a facility that does not exist. I rang the number for 'Queries' and was informed that Peiya may be installing a sewage system in 2 or 3 years. I said that was fine as I would start paying when it was installed and I was using it. I was then informed I would have to pay the 20% penalty on any outstanding payments. I am thinking of sending the Peiya Municipality a bill for the use of my private aircraft runway - which I do not have at the moment, but hope to build at some time in the future with the money they will be paying me!!

Guess what, bill has arrived for my sewerage, top side of coral bay. I am sure it's Aprils fools day, is it not. All they have done is waste time and money on printing and sending bills, that no one will ever pay.More wasted money, they can't afford, this one does take the biscuit. Richard.

Not got ours yet but we will not be paying this. I cannot see how they can get away with this.

For the attention of the latest posters, please be advised that the Cyprus Government passed legislation giving the right to the Sewage Board to raise income prior to the construction of their facilities many years ago. So, if your area is 'planned' to have sewage system provided, they have the right, in law, to charge you and to collect the 20% late payment fees. This has applied to Paphos and the surrounding areas ever since the Board was brought into being hence why I have been paying for the past eleven years and am still not connected.

Rav4man wrote:For the attention of the latest posters, please be advised that the Cyprus Government passed legislation giving the right to the Sewage Board to raise income prior to the construction of their facilities many years ago. So, if your area is 'planned' to have sewage system provided, they have the right, in law, to charge you and to collect the 20% late payment fees. This has applied to Paphos and the surrounding areas ever since the Board was brought into being hence why I have been paying for the past eleven years and am still not connected.

Is Pegeia planned? I have emailed the SBP asking them for details of the legal extension to Pegeia and a map. If I get a reply I will post it.

Rigsby - it is my understanding that there was significant complaints raised in the Peyia area when the sewage system cosntruction work stopped at Kissonerga on the coast road about three or more so years ago. The complants were for it to be extended to Peyia and, it is so planned now.

And what happens to the money when they do not do the work!
A nice bit of legal extortion!

Well I have today received an email from Peyia Neighbourhood Watch advising not to pay and with advise on what to put in a letter stating why you are not paying. We will be doing this. I do not need connection to the Sewerage system, quite happy with the septic tank. No problem with putting toilet paper in the toilet. Been here 12 years, house was designed to accomodate this. Also I live in a village road. No idea how they could possibly put the sewage system in as our road is so narrow.

Liz

Peyiapanther wrote:Well I have today received an email from Peyia Neighbourhood Watch advising not to pay and with advise on what to put in a letter stating why you are not paying. We will be doing this. I do not need connection to the Sewerage system, quite happy with the septic tank. No problem with putting toilet paper in the toilet. Been here 12 years, house was designed to accomodate this. Also I live in a village road. No idea how they could possibly put the sewage system in as our road is so narrow.
Liz

Could you post what the neighbourhood watch are suggesting or PM me with it?

A lot about this item can be read in this month's newsletter of the Pegeia Coalition (Linda Leblanc) :

http://www.pegeiacoalition.org/newsletters2.asp?id=112

Correct Rav4 man,spot on info,as I said before I was paying this in 2001,can somebody tell me why Peyia should not pay this when everyone elsewhere has? If you have a bill you have your title deeds,withholding of the once a year payment will just rack up on late payment charges!

People in Peyia are rong

Sorry but the people of Peyia are not RONG, or even wrong. Why should we be paying for something which does not exist, is not likely to exist in the near future and the chance of getting it into my little street is totally a no-no.

Tala are fighting this as well. It is time we took a stand.

Liz

If I lived in Tala I wouldn’t fool myself thinking that the roads are too narrow to install drainage, they did it through Anavargas village where the roads are as narrow if not narrower than Tala village. Also they installed the main interceptor sewer down the road leading from Armou through Konia to the motorway roundabout and that road in places is as steep if not steeper than any road in Tala. If it is government legislation for the Sewage Board to raise money this way and there is a 20% penalty if not paid I really can’t see a way out paying. Will Tala Council pay the 20% penalty for residents if the charges eventually have to be paid, somehow I doubt it?

Jim

The contents and financial implications of this story, from today's Cyprus Mail, dwarfs the problems faced by the residents of Tala and Peigia. It's a long story so will just provide a link:
http://www.newsincyprus.com/preview/?url=http://cyprus-mail.com/2014/02/02/new-pavements-only-good-for-better-parking-say-stung-kaimakli-residents/

places is as steep if not steeper than any road in Tala.

Jim B - surely you are mistaken. Have you been to Melissovounos, Lofos or Kamares? The problems in Tala is that hundreds of properties themselves are built on sloping plots. Many in places such as Kamares are built much lower than the nearest road level. It would be a nightmare scenario of pumps and more pumps to get an efficient working system. The scope for failure and the need for first class maintenance of the system is huge and in my opinion, I am very concerned, going by past mistakes of this company, as to the level of maintenance and service there would be in the event of system failures. The main argument however is that there has been no study to see if the system would be feasible and it is outrageous to ask for up-front funding when this hasn't even been performed.

Jeanne

Yes Jeanne; I have been all around that area. The stream that runs at the back of Debenhams with the big gorge runs through Anavargas and is is very deep there. I worked for North West Water for a number of years and as long as there is access to the property (even a narrow footpath) they can run a drain pipe.

Jim

Happy in Cyprus wrote:The contents and financial implications of this story, from today's Cyprus Mail, dwarfs the problems ...
http://www.newsincyprus.com/preview/?url=http://cyprus-mail.com/2014/02/02/new-pavements-only-good-for-better-parking-say-stung-kaimakli-residents/

Thanks for that link. Will the Cypriots will refuse to pay - then what? Will the money collected from the disgruntled law abiding foreigners then disappear?

tonee wrote:Hi
I was paying sewerage tax annually when I had a property in Chlorakas in 2001

We have had a house in Chlorakas since 2003 and have always paid sewerage, despite not being connected, we were told it was in expectation of the sewers being connected.

Cheers

JohnB

It seems to me that Cyprus is a lot different to the UK

In the UK, sewerage infrastructure investment might be provided out of general taxation, or maybe even from private investors - I don't think from the local community through council tax, quasi or otherwise. Once the service was up and running, the local community would pay for the service provided, and the government (ie tax payers in general) or those private investors would receive a return on their investment.

It seems to me that those living in the local community in Peyia are being asked to stump up part of the capital for the investment, and meet the interest charges on the rest of the capital required - without the opportunity to become bondholders or shareholders in that investment, hence no future return on this investment. You would have to be convinced that the sewerage service once provided, is provided at a significant discount given that you are getting a "nil" return on your investment. And if you sell up and move, there is no way to recover your upfront "investment".

Surely those in Cyprus responsible for such things can learn from how things are down in other countries, not least the importance of good communication and consultation on such issues?

I am lucky enough not to have paid any money in advance before connection to the Paphos sewerage system (I bought in 2012), but if you were to ask me why I am charged 339 euro a year to SBP for sewerage, I would be hard pressed to say where I think this 339 euro goes each year ... staff salaries, nice offices, repairs and maintenance, into a sinking fund for expansion of the sewerage system into Peyia, interest costs on loans from the EU? Who knows? Its certainly a lot of money.

And not only that, but there is a stitch up between SBA and the Water Board, whereby my water bill is increased by around 40% to account for "sewerage". This 40% uplift on the bill includes water used for garden irrigation .... which of course goes into the ground and not into the sewerage system!

Dee

Even though I have spent most of my life installing systems that overcome problems that have been mentioned I will bow to your superior knowledge.

Jim

So, in the present climate, where apartments (not connected to any mains sewage) do not have title deeds because the developer has got a whopping loan from the bank using the land upon which the apartments are constructed as collateral and owners are not likely to get those deeds to prove ownership because the banks might foreclose on the developer, why would anybody pay for a future service to an apartment that in the end they might not own.

Sorry, but I won't be paying up and should things not be as bad as I have painted, I will have paid the equivalent funds into a separate personal account and all I will have to pay is the late payment penalty of 20%.

Same applies to mortgage payments. Just keep paying the interest.

explodingaardvark wrote:So, in the present climate, where apartments (not connected to any mains sewage) do not have title deeds because the developer has got a whopping loan from the bank.....

If the banks have / own the Title Deeds shouldn't they be paying the sewage people?

Of course it could all get worse, the natural gas company could start sending out invoices for the gas that hasn't been extracted!

Can someone give me the email address of Peyeia neighborhood watch. Thank You.

[url]Thanks for that link. Will the Cypriots will refuse to pay - then what? Will the money collected from the disgruntled law abiding foreigners then disappear?[/url]

Just to mention that at the public meeting in Tala on Saturday, the mayor was urging the Cypriot residents not to pay and was telling them in effect to take note of the actions of the foreign residents of the village who would not by nature pay in advance for a service for which they had no date of receiving and that they were campaigning and writing to the newspapers etc. There were no nationalities other than Cypriot at the meeting. This is therefore totally in opposition to the statement above as there is more chance that the uninformed Cypriot residents would pay.

Jeanne

alewfin,

Until title deeds for individual apartments are issued the only title deeds that exist are for the land upon which the apartments stand and these are with the developer. The developer will have used these title deeds to obtain a loan from the bank despite the fact that the apartments that stand on the land have been sold to individual purchasers. The developer cannot parcel off the title deeds for individual apartments until he pays off the loan. So the sewerage tax bills should be sent to the developer until individual title deeds are issued when the developer will want to get them paid by the owner.

So, if you don't have title deeds then you shouldn't be paying these sewerage bills even if the developer asks for payment beforehand, until title deeds are in the owner's possession, as, if the developer has taken out a mortgage with the bank and is unable to pay it off it is highly unlikely that owner's will ever get their title deeds.

Of course this is why there is this cunning plan that the banks are demanding that owners to cover the cost of any developers unpaid loans on the land before agreeing to release the title deeds from the land registry. So in effect owners are being asked to pay twice for the land upon which their apartments stand and that is before the matter of swiss franc mortgages on the owner's loans comes into play.

If the Sewerage Board of Paphos expects to be able to collect monies in advance of providing a mains sewerage system for Peyia, they are dreaming. So such a scheme will never go ahead under the present conditions, so if monies are paid it will be into a bottomless pit.

At least those without title deeds will have a valid reason for not paying, even though they might be in deep sh*t elsewhere.

A can of worms if you ask me.