Government Measure
The special legislation adopted in relation to COVID-19 and the state of emergency in Bulgaria allows municipal councils to adopt decisions for the reduction of or exemption from rent for municipal properties rented by affected persons and entities. Certain municipalities, including Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas and others, have already approved such reductions or exemptions for properties, other than residential premises for two months after the lifting of the state of emergency (lifted on 14 May.2020).
In addition, some municipalities have also waived certain fees (e.g. local fees for municipal waste and for the use of sidewalks, squares and street lanes among other fees) payable in relation to municipal properties rented by affected persons and entities.
Note: A similar program may be available also for state-owned property rented to individuals or legal entities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but for the time being no such relief has been provided.
Eligibility
Individuals or legal entities who have reduced or discontinued their business activity due to the COVID-19 measures imposed by the government.
Some municipalities have limited the eligibility only to persons or entities whose business activity was directly and explicitly suspended by the laws, regulations and administrative acts adopted in relation to COVID-19. Other municipalities have provided the relief to a wider group of affected persons and entities.
This application occurs with automatic effect with no applications required.
Supervising Authority
Respective municipalities
Availability
Starting date depends on the date specified in the respective municipal decision.
Generally, such relief is available during and until the state of emergency in Bulgaria is lifted. The said relief has been adopted on 9 April 2020 by the Act on the Measures and Activities during the Emergency state as a general possibility for all municipal councils to approve local relief. In compliance with this provision some of the municipal councils (Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas) have already adopted such decisions. Thus, the relief is in place for the cities, where the municipality councils have adopted respective decisions.