The Wild West in the real estate market: once a travel agency now an apartment

Basement flats without windows, garages converted into flats and, more and more often, commercial premises are, in addition to skyrocketing prices, another symptom of the deepening housing crisis in Slovenia. When demand outstrips supply, many things end up on the property market. How is it possible that such housing can be sold or rented out at all, and is there any sanction for this type of business? Source: 24ur.com

14.06.2024 | Views: 0

Link to the video: https://www.24ur.com/novice/svet/zapusceni-prostori-nekdaj-potovalne-agencije-se-oglasujejo-kot-stanovanje-za-prodajo.html

A multi-apartment building on Brilejeva Street in Ljubljana, with the ground floor seemingly abandoned premises of a former travel agency, currently advertised as an apartment for sale. The number of such flats has been increasing recently, but the Housing Inspectorate is aware of this, according to Boštjan Rus, Acting Director of the Housing Inspectorate. Rus adds that the main issue is whether the building is being used in accordance with the permit.

It is not so easy to obtain a permit, as it requires a change of use. As Zoran Đukić, owner and director of Stoja nehnuteľnina, points out, the change requires the following: "It is important to have the location information or the area that allows it, and it is necessary to meet all the urban planning criteria for lighting, parking spaces and, of course, energy efficiency is particularly important." Đukič adds, "The energy efficiency of a ground-floor space with a hipped roof will never be the same as that of a building with walls, with bricks. It is easiest to turn whole buildings, commercial and residential buildings into apartments, not some little hole that is thirty squares and has no light."

Today's extract from the Land Registry shows that the Brilejeva apartment, which is being sold for 175 thousand euros, is still listed as a business premises. Violations of unregulated changes of use are monitored by building inspectors, who have confirmed that they are checking the legality of the construction. Grey zones are also often exploited by building owners, so care should be taken when making purchases. For example, the advertisement on Brilejeva Street says it is a so-called business apartment.

"If you have a business apartment, you can use it normally for tourist or business use, but the costs are different, the fees are different, the contributions are different and, of course, there is no registration of permanent residence, so it's not that desirable," Đukič concludes.

However, such apartments are suitable for tourist and short-term rentals. For example, the latter is also advertised as a good opportunity in the now well-known Brilejeva Street apartment.

Link to the video: 24ur.com