The Law on Legalization of Buildings (Zakon o ozakonjenju objekata, “Official Gazette of RS”, No. 96/2015, 83/2018, 81/2020 – Decision of the CC, 1/2023 – Decision of the CC, and 62/2023) stipulates the rules and guidelines related to the legalization of buildings that have been constructed without appropriate permits. This law thoroughly regulates the conditions under which the legalization process is conducted, the steps taken during that process, as well as the manner in which legalization decisions are made. Furthermore, the law defines the legal consequences originating from legalization and includes other significant aspects concerning this procedure.
The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Law on the Amendments to the Law on Legalization of Buildings (“Official Gazette of RS,” No. 62/2023) on 26 July 2023.
This amendment to the law provides a legal basis for owners of illegal structures who have intended to resolve their housing issues by purchasing these houses or apartments, to have temporary connections, and consequently, to exercise fundamental housing rights.
Key Novelties
These specific amendments will enable owners of illegally constructed houses and apartments to be temporarily connected to the electrical grid, gas network, district heating network, water supply, and sewerage, regardless of when these objects were built.
The amendments envisage the adoption of bylaws that will specify the conditions, methods, and procedures for connecting to the mentioned infrastructure networks.
It is important to note that rights envisaged by these amendments apply only to buildings and parts of buildings (houses and apartments) of natural persons who use them as their residence, i.e. they do not apply to entrepreneurs and legal entities, i.e. to investors engaged in commercial real estate trading.
These amendments entered into force on 28 July 2023.
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