Gasbag, not only did they have the choice to stay in the free areas, but when they left their homes were not stolen (or sold on) but kept waiting for the day they return. That is still the case.
Care to correct your assertion?
You definitely need to get out and about round the island a bit more Oracle. I know for a FACT that is NOT the case for all TC owned property.
I know a GC who has renovated and converted one into a Taverna up above Limassol. I know some nearer to where I live that have recently been restored and are being lived in.
I have been told that they take them on for peanuts money on the understanding that if the TC owner turns up to claim it they will have to give it back and not get any reparation for the money they spent improving.
But that is not quite the same as 'kept waiting for their return' in the way you make it sound.
There are others that have been demolished. Again, not exactly 'kept waiting for their return' is it?
I found an interesting article on this very subject today relating to 'Trespass'. But I won't post it in here because you wouldn't believe a word of it anyway lol!
But I bet you'd really like to read it!