Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat)

Construction Statistics Unit

Michael Karaoli str., 1444 Nicosia, Cyprus

The Statistical Service collects data for the number of building permits issued in the reference month, the total (covered) area to be erected, the value of any future construction work and the number of dwelling units. The information is extracted from the building permits. These variables are collected for three types of projects; residential, non-residential buildings and civil engineering projects. From these four variables, the total (covered) area and the number of dwelling units are transmitted to Eurostat for residential and non-residential buildings.

Classification of Types of construction projects (1996 version).

Coverage is determined by the provisions to obtain a building permit as laid down in national legislation. The source covers all construction work that requires a building permit. It covers construction requested by individuals, construction companies, developers, enterprises, local authorities (municipalities and community councils), semi-government organizations and the church. Building permits are not issued for buildings constructed by the Government.  The types of projects that are covered are residential, non-residential and civil engineering projects. No size threshold is used, other than any that may be implicit within the limits of building permits.

Information given on a building permit issued (apart from identifiers such as name, address and administrative references) is the following: type of project, authorised use of building, surface area of the new building to be erected and of any already existing building, description of any alterations/repairs, estimated cost, number of buildings and dwelling units to be constructed, validity of the permit and fees charged, date of issue of the permit.

Compliance with the definitions of the variables laid down in the Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 (Annex IV) is achieved, except for EBSR variable 150102 for which total (and not “useful”) floor area is provided by the building permits.

The statistical unit is the building permit.

The statistical population comprises all  building permits issued within a given month.

Republic of Cyprus

Data are available as from 2000.

Since no index is compiled for this indicator, there is no base year.

The total (covered) area is measured in square metres (m²) and the number of dwellings is measured in units.

Month.

The Permits are issued on the basis of the Streets and Building (Registration) Law, Ch. 96. Article 3 of the national Official Statistics Law, No. 25(I) of 2021 defines the functions of the Statistical Service of Cyprus regarding the production and dissemination of official statistics. Moreover, Article 13, explicitly stipulates the mandate for data collection and introduces a mandatory response to statistical enquiries by stipulating the obligation of respondents to reply to surveys and provide the data required. This relates not only to national but also to European statistics which, by virtue of Article 8 of the said Law, are incorporated in the annual and multiannual programmes of work without any further procedure.  The Official Statistics Law of 2021 (Law No. 25(I)/2021) can be found at the following link: Official Statistics Law of 2021 (cystat.gov.cy).

Also, the legal basis for the short-term statistics is the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on 27 November 2019, followed by the Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to the mentioned EBS Regulation (General Implementing Act). The former legal basis for the STS indicators is the Council Regulation No 1165/98 of 19 May 1998 concerning short-term statistics and subsequent amending regulations.

Data for the number of dwellings and the total (covered) area of residential and non-residential buildings are also sent to the UN, via questionnaire on a monthly basis.

Official statistics are released in accordance to all confidentiality provisions of the following:

• National Official Statistics Law No. 25(I) of 2021 (especially Article 16 on statistical confidentiality).
• Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics and its later amendments (especially Chapter 5 on statistical confidentiality).
• European Statistics Code of Practice (especially Principle 5 on statistical confidentiality).
• CYSTAT's Code of Practice for the Collection, Publication and Storage of Statistical Data.

Links to all of the above documents:

• Statistics Law No. 25(I) of 2021: 

Official Statistics Law of 2021 (cystat.gov.cy)

• Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (consolidated text):

 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02009R0223-20150608&qid=1504858409240&from=EN

• European Statistics Code of Practice:

 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-manuals-and-guidelines/-/KS-32-11-955

• Code of Practice for the Collection, Publication and Storage of Statistical Data: 

https://www.cystat.gov.cy/en/StaticPage?id=1066

No data is considered confidential at the level published. The treatment of confidential data is regulated by CYSTAT's Code of Practice for the Collection, Publication and Storage of Statistical Data.  

The link is as follows: https://www.cystat.gov.cy/en/StaticPage?id=1066

In the framework of its mission, CYSTAT provides high-quality statistical information, through the web portal and social media, with the use of statistical products such as announcements, interactive tables, predefined tables, metadata, infographics and publications. The principles and the legal framework governing the dissemination of official statistical data are defined and explained in the document “Dissemination Policy”. The means of dissemination, the main statistical products and the services provided to the users, are also presented. Additionally, the document describes the procedures for data revision and error treatment. The link is as follows:Dissemination Policy of the Statistical Service of Cyprus (cystat.gov.cy)

An annual release calendar is prepared and forwarded to Eurostat. At national level, a release calendar with preliminary dates for the next four months is published at Cystat web site. Announcements are confirmed on the Friday preceding their release. Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on CYSTAT’s website. The annual release calendar, announced during the 4th quarter of the year, includes provisional dates of publication for the following year, which are finalised the week before publication.

The release calendar published at national level can be found at: https://www.cystat.gov.cy/en/AnnouncementList

As provided in article 4(1) of the Official Statistics Law (Law No. 25(I)/2021) regarding the principle of impartiality, statistics are disseminated in such a way that all users have equal and simultaneous access to the data. Also, according to the Dissemination and Pricing Policy of the Statistical Service of Cyprus (section 2.3) CYSTAT΄s main channel for dissemination of statistics is the website, which offers the same conditions to everyone and is updated at the same time every working day (12:00 noon). Privileged pre-released access (of no more than 1 day in advance) has been granted to a few selected users for specific statistics. These are specified in the Dissemination Policy (section 2.3).

In addition to the annual release calendar, users are informed of the various statistical releases through the “Alert” service provided by CYSTAT.

Link to the Dissemination and Pricing Policy of the Statistical Service of Cyprus can be found at: https://www.cystat.gov.cy/en/StaticPage?id=1064.

Data are disseminated on a monthly basis.

There is a regular monthly news release. The news release is accompanied by a set of Predefined Tables (by type of project and by district and area) available in Excel format and is disseminated as absolute figures on a monthly basis on the new Cystat web portal. The Predefined Tables include data up to the fourth quarter of 2022. Data from the first quarter of 2023 onwards, are available only in the CYSTAT-DB Online Database.

The annual data on building permits are disseminated in the statistical yearbook "Statistical Abstract". 

CYSTAT-DB is the online database of the Statistical Service of Cyprus. It gives users the ability to produce the desired table, to format the presentation, to edit and make calculations and to save it in any form available. Additionally, requests can be saved and used at a later stage to get the updated table with the latest available statistics. It is an interactive tool, providing the possibility to create customized tables for building permits statistics. CYSTAT-DB can be accessed from the home page or alternatively from the pages of statistical sub-themes.

Data on building permits from the first quarter of 2023 onwards, are available only in the CYSTAT-DB Online Database.

There is no microdata access to outside users. 

Under the provisions of the Statistics Law, CYSTAT may release microdata for the sole use of scientific research. Applicants have to submit the request form "APPLICATION FOR DATA FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES" giving thorough information on the project for which micro-data are needed.The application is evaluated by CYSTAT’s Confidentiality Committee and if the application is approved, a charge is fixed according to the volume and time consumed for preparation of the data. Micro-data may then be released after an anonymisation process which ensures no direct identification of the statistical units but, at the same time, ensures usability of the data.

The link for the application is: https://www.cystat.gov.cy/en/DataRequestContactForm?fid=7

The data are sent to Eurostat.

Not available.

Not available.

The quality of statistics in CYSTAT is managed in the framework of the European Statistics Code of Practice which sets the standards for developing, producing and disseminating European Statistics as well as the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). CYSTAT endorses the Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System. In addition, CYSTAT is guided by the requirements provided for in Article 11 of the Statistics Law No. 25(I) of 2021 as well as Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics, which sets out the quality criteria to be applied in the development, production and dissemination of European statistics.

Links to all of the above documents:

• European Statistics Code of Practice:

 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-manuals-and-guidelines/-/KS-32-11-955

• ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF): 

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/64157/4392716/ESS-QAF-V1-2final.pdf/bbf5970c-1adf-46c8-afc3-58ce177a0646

• Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System: 

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/4031688/8188985/KS0217428ENN_corr.pdf/116f7c85-cd3e-4bff-b695-4a8e71385fd4

• Statistics Law No. 25(I) of 2021: 

https://www.cystat.gov.cy/en/StaticPage?id=1074

• Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (consolidated text):

 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02009R0223-20150608&qid=1504858409240&from=EN

The quality of statistics is assessed according to the following quality criteria: relevance, accuracy, timeliness, punctuality, accessibility and clarity, coherence and comparability. The quality indicators are assessed taking into account Eurostat defined methodology and recommendations.

A copy of all building permits issued each month by the issuing authorities (which are the Municipalities and the District Administration Offices of the Ministry of Interior) is sent to Cystat by post or e-mail. Completeness and high quality of the information received from the issuing authorities is achieved due to the close co-operation between Cystat and the providers.

Data on building permits are requested by media, property valuers, architects, the academic community, enterprises, the national Central Bank, Eurostat and individuals.

A user satisfaction survey is carried out on an annual basis since 2008 (with the exception of 2010, 2013 and 2020) but is not specific to short-term indicators. It does not allow for adequate conclusions to be made on this specific indicator. The results of the surveys are available on CYSTAT’s new web portal at the link attached below. Overall, there is a high level of satisfaction of the users of statistical data published by CYSTAT.

The results of Cystat's user satisfaction survey can be found on the web-portal of the Statistical Service of Cyprus at the following link:User Satisfaction Survey (cystat.gov.cy)

The data are transmitted to Eurostat at the level of detail required by the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on 27 November 2019, followed by the Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to the mentioned EBS Regulation (General Implementing Act).

The former legal basis for the STS indicators is the Council Regulation No 1165/98 of 19 May 1998 concerning short-term statistics and subsequent amending regulations.

The accuracy of building permits data is considered to be very high. A copy of all building permits is transmitted to Cystat each month by all the issuing authorities, ie., the Municipalities and the District Administration Offices of the Ministry of Interior. Data do not need to be changed after their first release since there is exhaustive collection of all permits issued at the time of release.

The unit response rate reaches 100%.

The building permits data are not subject to sampling errors because they are based on a census.

For the building permits data, non-sampling errors are not quantified. Cystat tries to reduce non-sampling errors through continuous process improvements which can help avoiding coding and typing errors.

• The personnel working at the processing stage is very well experienced and properly guided in order to be able to deal with difficult cases.
• At the stage of coding, basic checks are being performed regarding the contents of the documents received. The common errors are measurement errors or incomplete information.
• After the punching of the data, exhaustive checks according to a predefined set of rules are applied at record level in COBOL and SPSS for quality purposes. Most of the measurement errors are detected and corrected through the logical and arithmetical controls.
• Appropriate validation procedures are applied at micro level and the following actions are performed: 1) monitoring and analyzing the data completeness, 2) consulting with the reporting units to confirm data of the reference month and 3) controlling, analyzing as well as explaining errors and data outliers.
• Controls on aggregated data are also performed before their release. 

Data are released between 60 and 70 days after the end of the reference month.

Both Eurostat and national deadlines are respected. All releases are delivered on time, based on the scheduled release dates.

It is possible to compare the national data with that of other European countries, as full compliance with the definitions of the variables laid down in the EBSR is achieved.The EBS Regulation and the EBS methodological guidelines are applied, except for the EBSR variable 150102 for which total (and not “useful”) floor area is provided by the building permits.

Data on volume (cubic metres) were collected instead of square metres for total floor area prior to 2004. The data sent to Eurostat for the years 2000-2003 were converted to square metres.

No statistical comparisons are carried out.

The higher aggregates i.e. types of construction according to CC are consistent with their main sub-aggregates. Furthermore, the floor area for residential buildings is coherent with the number of dwelling units.

No cost and burden exercise has been recently performed.

There is a formal revision policy at Cystat. Cystat publishes its Revision Policy on its web portal Revision Policy (cystat.gov.cy) describing the general rules and principles governing the procedure of revising data published by Cystat. The policy is based on the guidelines of the European Statistical System (ESS) regarding revision policies for Principal European Economic Indicators, also taking into account the Quality Assurance Framework of the ESS and the European Statistics Code of Practice. 

CYSTAT also publishes a list of scheduled revisions (regular or major revisions), also published on its web portal at: https://www.cystat.gov.cy/en/AnnouncementList.

The same practice is applied both to data released nationally and to data transmitted to Eurostat. When revised data are transmitted to Eurostat, these are flagged accordingly and accompanied by the necessary explanations.

It is, however, worthnoting that, since there is exhaustive collection of all permits issued at the time of compilation and publication of the monthly data for building permits, there is no need for revisions. So far, there has never been a need for a revision of the data on the building permits. Exchaustive checks are being applied at permit level and no errors have ever been detected subsequently.

Furthermore, CYSTAT has set its strategic goal to provide high-quality statistical information in an objective, transparent, reliable and timely manner. CYSTAT consider quality to be its main advantage in a world experiencing a growing trend of instant information which often lacks the necessary proof of quality. In order to realise strategic goals it is imperative to establish policies which ensure that an organisation is moving towards the right direction. For this reason, CYSTAT establishes the "Quality Policy" which forms the basis of all statistical activities and leads towards continuous improvement of its statistical output.

Data are not changed after their release. There is exhaustive collection of all permits issued at the time of release. Data are confronted with other housing-related statistics such as the dwelling stock and construction output. The Mean Revision (MR) of year-on-year growth rates and the Mean Average Revision (MAR) of year-on-year growth rates for unadjusted building permits is 0%.

The indicator on building permits is based on an administrative source. A copy of all building permits issued each month by the issuing authorities (which are the Municipalities and the District Administration Offices of the Ministry of Interior) is sent to Cystat by post or e-mail. There are 30 Municipalities, 1 Community Board and 6 District Offices.  

The data are collected monthly and the reference period is the month in which building permits are issued.

A copy of all building permits is sent to Cystat each month by Municipalities and the District Administration Offices of Ministry of Interior. The copies of the permits are normally received two to three weeks after the end of the reference month.

At the stage of coding, basic checks are being performed regarding the contents of the documents received. After the punching of the data, exhaustive checks according to a given set of rules are applied at record level, both in COBOL and SPSS programs, for quality purposes.

Appropriate validation procedures are applied on the level of unit data and aggregates as well as before the transmission to Eurostat. In the first stage, the following actions are performed:

• monitoring and analyzing the data completeness,
• consulting with the reporting units the need to confirm data of the reference month,
• controlling, analyzing as well as explaining errors and data outliers (correction of unit data).

In the second stage, Cystat again controls aggregated data. Before the transmission to Eurostat, the structure of the data file and format is checked in detail.

There is full coverage, since a copy of each permit issued is provided on a monthly basis to Cystat from the issuing authorities. There is close co-operation between Cystat and the providers in order to provide the copy of the permits on time.

• Indicate the software used and version

JDemetra+, version 2.2.3

• Indicate the model/filter selection (manual vs. automatic)

Generally, automatic selection is used but, quite often, manual selection is necessary in cases when the automatic selection does not produce well fitted models.

• How often are the models and the respective parameters re-estimated

Systematically, models are re-estimated when the final gross data of the previous year are available. Also, models are re-estimated in case of multiannual gross data revisions. Parameters can be re-estimated more frequently in cases the model does not provide a good fit.

• Indicate the horizon of revisions (how often are the seasonally adjusted time series revised and how far backwards)

Seasonally adjusted time series are revised with each new period back to the first reference date.

• Indicate seasonal adjustment decomposition (additive vs. multiplicative)

Automatic decomposition is used. For the components of the Index with positive values, the decomposition is always multiplicative. For series with zero values, it is a case-by-case treatment.

• Indicate the model used

Models may change at least once a year and vary among the different components of each Index. Some of the ARIMA models used for the various series of this Index are: [(0,1,1)(0,1,1)], [(1,1,1)(0,1,1)], [(1,0,0)(0,1,1)], [(0,1,1)(0,0,0)], etc.

• Indicate the critical value for outlier detection

3.5

• Indicate the filter length (automatically chosen vs. user-defined)

TRAMO-SEATS method (therefore there is no filter, question not applicable) is used.

• Indicate the date of seasonal breaks in the series

There are no seasonal breaks.

• Indicate if indirect adjustment via components is used

No, we use direct adjustment, adjusting the aggregate and the components independently.

• Indicate whether residual seasonality is checked and from which level of detail the aggregation is started

Residual seasonally is checked for all levels. The direct adjustment method is used.

• Indicate the consistency amongst the different levels of breakdown

In the direct adjustment method, the different levels of breakdown do not need to be consistent. In the choice between no residual seasonality and level consistency, our choice is to provide good quality seasonally adjusted series without residual seasonality.

No additional comments.