Bulgaria discusses adoption of new requirements for living construction

The year of 2021 was the year of recovery for the Bulgarian property market. Apart Estate agency has already introduced statistics on price and sales growth compared to 2020. The key reason for the price growth was the increased demand for apartments and houses in Bulgaria, as well as the limited number of good offers.

In December, however, it became known about another factor that will definitely cause a rise in prices. New requirements for living and public buildings have been submitted for public discussion. From the point of view of Apart Estate specialists, if the changes are adopted, the cost per square meter in Bulgaria will increase not only for property from developers, but also in the resale market.

Balcony design requirements

According to many people buying property in Bulgaria, one of the strangest structures in modern residential buildings is balconies. 

Some of them are just huge, inside you can arrange another room. Ground floor balconies are sometimes so large that you can fit a pool. 

Others are very small and narrow. You can grow flowers on them, put a pot with a ficus tree, and perhaps go out to admire the sunset. However, you won't be able to sit there drinking coffee with your friend. Neither will you be able to open the doors or windows. 

Therefore, the first requirement to be discussed concerns the balcony design. If the initiative is accepted, the minimum dimensions of balconies must be at least 150 cm in length and the same in width. It is assumed that due to the fulfillment of this condition, people living in the apartment will be able to use the interior space with greater comfort. 

Stroller and wheelchair ramps

Bulgaria continues to move towards providing a favorable and comfortable environment for people with special needs and those who have small kids.
If the discussed initiative is met, ramps for strollers and wheelchairs in living buildings, subways, underground and aboveground pedestrian crossings should become heated. This will ensure safety in winter. 

Parking design standards

Parking is a real issue in many cities and resorts of Bulgaria, be it Sofia, Burgas, Sunny Beach, Pomorie or Pamporovo. In many multi-storey residential buildings, parking spaces are organized on the basement or ground floor. Their sizes depend on the interests of developers and architectural solutions. 

The possibility of establishing the minimum size standard of parking spaces is currently being discussed. The length should not be less than 5.5 m, the width – not less than 2.75 m, the height – not less than 2.4 m. For example, the width of one of the top-selling cars in 2020-2021 in Bulgaria, the Skoda Octavia, is 1.8 m, and the length - 4.67 m. It will be quite convenient to park such a car in the new parking space. 

The current discussion includes an official permission to arrange two-storey parking in residential buildings. 

Electric vehicle charging stations

Electric vehicles are gaining popularity in Bulgaria. EC charging stations can be found in all major cities. 

In accordance with the proposed changes, when erecting a public or a living building with premises for offices and shops, developers will have to allocate every fifth parking space for an electric car. It must be equipped with charging equipment with a specific capacity. 

The condition is relevant if the parking is designed for more than 10 parking spaces. 

The requirements are not retroactive and do not apply to residential buildings that have already been built or are under construction. The initiatives are currently being discussed and, as soon as they are accepted, Apart Estate will definitely provide the relevant information to our clients.

In the meantime, we are happy to present you a brief summary of the demand for new real estate in 2021.

Property from developers in Bulgaria

Due to the consistently high demand for property from developers, in the first 9 months of 2021, construction of more than 5.8 million square meters has begun in Bulgaria. This is 22.57% higher than for the corresponding period of 2020 and includes both living and public construction. The living buildings construction counts more than 4 million square meters, which is 48.86% more than in January-September 2020. 

The leaders in construction are Sofia and Plovdiv. More than 300 thousand living square meters are currently being built in Varna. Most of the buildings are being erected in Vazrazhdane, Briz and in the downtown. 

More than 180 thousand square meters of residential property are under construction in Burgas. The highest share (more than 52 thousand sq. m) is being built in the Izgrev district. The other most popular districts in terms of construction intensity are Meden Rudnik and Sarafovo. 

Almost all apartments in buildings under construction are sold before or at the stage of obtaining Act 14. This is due to a significant difference in price and the desire of buyers to choose the property that best suits their requirements. 

In the Apart Estate catalog you can find studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments from developers in Burgas, Pomorie, Bansko, Pamporovo and other tows and resorts.