A RECORD €650,000 in compensation was awarded last Friday to the owner of a small chain of shops specialising in decorative items, one of which was on the popular, upmarket shopping street of Stassicratous in Nicosia.

The tenant’s lawyer Michalis Cleopas confirmed that this was the largest sum that the Rent Control Courts had made a judgement on since they were established in 1983.

“It’s not very much because of all the investments that were lost. I don’t consider it an over the top amount,” said a representative of the company, who preferred to remain anonymous.

According to Cleopas the owner of the shop had originally taken the tenant to court in an effort to get them out so he could tear the shop down.

A compromise was reached whereby the tenant would be given a shop in the owner’s new building. This never happened however, as the owner simply tore the shop down and turned it into a car park.

The tenant was awarded €350,000 for loss of profits and income, and another €300,000 for goodwill, after four years of court proceedings. The courts ruled against the owner in favour of the tenant on the basis that he was evicted under false pretences.

“It was a very important step that the owner was punished and since then I’ve been getting calls from all over the island with people reporting similar problems,” said Cleopas adding that it was a message that owners should not be going to court to evict their tenants. The company representative also reiterated the sentiment that it was a strong message that a shop owner cannot simply deceive their tenant.

Source: Cyprus Mail