Housing

Private Rented Accommodation

Beneficiaries of refugee or humanitarian status can sign rental contracts under the Obligations and Contracts Act.

The renting of accommodation by beneficiaries of refugee or humanitarian status shall be carried out under the terms and conditions for Bulgarian citizens.

The renting of property requires valid Bulgarian or international documents.

The hiring of rental apartments requires the signing of a written contract between the person and the owner of the place in duplicate for each of the parties.

When searching for a rental apartment one can use the services of a broker or an intermediary after signing a contract for the intermediary service. After renting the premises, the tenant (a person granted refugee or humanitarian status) has to register their address at the relevant municipal office.

Address Registration

The tenant (a beneficiary of refugee or humanitarian status) is required to have an address registration made at the relevant municipal office in the presence of the owner of the house/flat. The following documents should be presented: identity documents, a rental contract, a notarial deed for the property, and a statement (following a model statement) certifying the owner’s consent.

Municipal Housing

The accommodation in municipal housing for beneficiaries of refugee or humanitarian status is carried out on the grounds of the ordinance of each municipality laying down the conditions for the assessment of citizens’ housing needs, rented accommodation, and the selling of municipal dwellings.

Sofia:

Ordinance of Sofia Municipality laying down the term and the procedure for assessing citizens’ housing needs, rented accommodation, and the selling of municipal dwellings of Sofia Municipality, as well as the specific powers of the mayor and the district mayors.

Among the conditions in Sofia is at least one of the members of the family/household to be a Bulgarian citizen and to have address registration and permanent address in the municipality for the last 10 years.

Plovdiv:

Ordinance on the terms and procedure  for accessing citizens’ housing needs, accommodation in municipal dwellings and their selling.

Among the conditions in Plovdiv is at least one of the members of the family/household to be a Bulgarian citizen and to have address registration and permanent address in the municipality for the last 10 years.

Varna:

Ordinance on the terms and procedure  for accessing citizens’ housing needs, accommodation in and selling of municipal dwellings.

Among the conditions in Varna is at least one of the members of the family/household to be a Bulgarian citizen and to have address registration and permanent address in the municipality for the last 5 years.

Burgas:

Ordinance on the terms and procedure for assessing citizens’ housing needs, rented accommodation, and the selling of municipal dwellings.

Among the conditions in Burgas is an address registration and permanent address in the municipality for the last 5 years.

Ruse:

Ordinance № 6 on the terms and procedure for assessing citizens’ housing needs, rented accommodation, and the managing of dwellings, which are municipal property.

Among the conditions in Ruse is an address registration and permanent address in the municipality for the last 5 years.

Фinancial support for housing or extension of the accommodation period in the SAR Reception Registration Centers

 Persons granted refugee status or humanitarian status are entitled to financial assistance for housing or extension of the period of stay in the Registration and Reception Centers of the State Agency for Refugees on the grounds of Art. 32 (3) of the Law on Asylum and Refugees.
Financial assistance or an extension of the period of stay may be provided for a period of up to 6 months after receiving refugee or humanitarian status under the rules and under conditions defined by the Chairman of the SAR and in agreement with the Minister of Finance.

 

For accommodation in specialized institutions and residential services and acceptance in social services within the community see section Social Assistance.