Serbia proposes stricter property legalization procedures

Proposed amendments to the ‘Svoj na svome’ law in Serbia are facing criticism from real estate experts and legal professionals. The changes involve stricter procedures for the legalization of larger houses and unfinished structures.

Under the new provisions, owners of buildings that are structurally complete but lack internal installations, joinery, or finished facades must provide a report on the current state of the object. This report, prepared by an authorized person, must determine the necessary work to ensure structural stability, fire protection, and safety for use.

Critics argue that these changes may be difficult to control in practice. Legal experts suggest that investors might claim buildings are nearly complete to bypass stricter requirements, and that officials in the Agency for Spatial Planning and Urbanism may lack the means to verify the actual degree of completion or the status of internal electrical works.