A grave issue: the crippling cost of funerals in Cyprus

There was a sigh of relief from the expat community when, in April 2016, a bill was passed making cremation legal in Cyprus.

Since cremation doesn’t figure in the Cypriot culture, there was no huge demand from locals. But for the thousands of expats living here it was, as the grim joke had it, a burning issue.

More than 11,000 people had signed a petition calling for a crematorium and, every year, hundreds of people were sending the remains of their love ones home to be cremated - at considerable cost, EUR 5,000-plus in the case of the UK.

Two years later, despite the obvious demand, Cyprus still has no crematorium. Stringent regulations have made private operators wary of the costs involved and it is now being suggested that the state should set up its own crematorium.

Meanwhile the problem continues. Partly it is an issue of choice. In much of Europe, cremation is now a significant funeral option. In the Czech Republic, 70% of funerals involve cremation. In Britain, the figure is 50%, with Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland recording similar numbers.

But there is also the very serious matter of costs which have been driven steadily upwards by a shortage of burial grounds in Cyprus.

A recent survey put the cost of grave space, a grave marker, and opening and closing the grave at between EUR 1,500 and 2,000. When this is added to the cost of a coffin, the services of an undertaker and a funeral home, the price of burial in Cyprus can often reach EUR 10,000.

There are British cemeteries in Nicosia,

Larnaca and Limassol. In Paphos arrangements have been made with the Orthodox Church for a section of the cemetery to be set aside for the burial of British residents. There is also a Roman Catholic cemetery which is run separately.

Outside the main centres, expats complain of discriminatory practices whereby plots are kept for Cypriots, obliging other residents to find burial spaces miles away from where they have lived.

All this has persuaded many to consider burial or cremation in their home country. It is an indication of the cost of a burial in Cyprus that repatriation is usually the cheaper option. But the saving is not great and there is a lot of red tape involved. You will need to obtain a ‘cause of death’ certificate, a Cyprus death certificate and a British death certificate from the British High Commission.

Funeral homes and cemeteries in Cyprus expect to receive payment in full at the time of the funeral. Funeral providers charge a basic services fee that customers cannot refuse to pay. It covers funeral planning, securing the necessary certificates and coordinating the arrangements with the cemetery.

So, bereaved relatives are likely to be hit by immediate charges as well as a steep final bill.

Nobody wants to be facing these problems at the time of bereavement, so it is wise to make plans. Death is not something anyone wants to dwell on but, as the saying goes, there’s nothing more certain, so it is a good idea to discuss funeral arrangements with family and friends and then meet with a financial adviser to see how they can be paid for.

The Woodbrook Group can help with this sensitive issue as part of a plan for getting and keeping your finances in shape.

We offer a free pension review to help clients plan for the future. We can help you understand your options and how to address your income needs.

Crucially, for a delicate issue such as this one, our pension plans are individually tailored to meet our clients’ needs.

You will have one point of contact from the first appointment with your Senior Financial Consultant. Any questions will be dealt with by our highly skilled, fully qualified advisers. Michael Doherty is CEO of the Woodbrook Group in Limassol, Tel: +357 25272820 www.woodbrookgroup.com contact@woodbrookgroup.com