Even before the First World War, we witness an important social housing scheme implemented in Nicosia. Therefore, before starting to analyse recent developments on this issue, it is important to mention the past developments. After the First World War, the British Colonial administration started to implement housing projects consisting of hundreds of dwelling units for low-income families and workers. Some of these units have been sold to the occupants, while the others remained in government possession.
Rents paid by the occupants to the municipality are below the average rent in the housing market.
The Turkish-Cypriots lived in these enclaves, scattered all over the island. Refugees were temporarily housed in tented camps, warehouses, schools and other governmental buildings. The housing and sanitary conditions of the refugees need not be mentioned. Starting in 1965, the Turkish- Cypriot administration developed a Refugee Housing Project to upgrade the living conditions of at least some of the refugee families. The floor area ranged from 46 m2 to 70 m2.