Romania urban planning changes impact older apartment buyers

In Romania, new regulations regarding territory, urbanism, and construction are changing the rules for property owners who have performed unauthorized works. This shift is particularly relevant for individuals looking to purchase apartments in older buildings.

Experts warn that buyers of older apartments face unique risks compared to new constructions. While new buildings come with modern standards and guarantees, older buildings often lack a complete or existing technical history. Under Law 212/2022, buildings are categorized into four seismic risk classes, ranging from RsI (susceptibility to collapse) to RsIV (comparable to modern standards).

Due to the expiration of deadlines for municipalities to evaluate all residential blocks, buyers are advised to look beyond price and construction year, investigating building history, structural expertise, land registry details, and consolidation status to avoid significant risks.