Regulations governing the concession of Turkish Cypriot properties by the guardian and their management by refugees will be submitted to the plenum on March 27, officials on the House refugees committee said on Tuesday.

The purpose of the regulations is to enhance the transparency and integrity of concession procedures, equality among refugees and the fairer distribution of properties based on objective and measurable criteria.

Speaking after the meeting, committee chairman Akel MP Nikos Kettiros said concerns had been raised regarding charging rent and the service managing the properties had proposed that a refugee could 75 per cent of the rent and non-refugees 100 per cent.

Kettiros said discussions were still in their early stages and clarified that houses would be exclusively for refugees, while they would also be given priority for business and agricultural premises.

The committee has requested information from the service managing Turkish Cypriot properties regarding a case in Timi, Paphos, where agricultural land was handed to the Turkish Cypriot owner, thus forcing Greek Cypriot farmers to abandon their cultivations.