The management of a condominium may be organised through an owners' association. Such an association is often set up in order to be able to apply for various funding programmes from European funds or from the state and municipal budgets. Such associations were registered on a mass scale during the projects for the renovation of prefabricated panel and other residential buildings, as well as gated residential complexes.

The owners' association constitutes a separate legal person and must be entered in a special public register of owners' associations in buildings under a condominium regime. In addition, the association must also be registered in the BULSTAT Register.

The association may cover one or more entrances of a building, as well as several buildings under a condominium regime constructed as connected development.

The bodies of the association include the general assembly of the owners, the management board (or the manager) and the control board (or the controller). In communications with the municipality and third parties, the association is represented by the management board (or the manager).

Establishment of an Owners' Association

To establish an association, the participation of owners holding not less than 67% of the ideal shares of the common parts of the condominium is required.

Any owner in the building may request the convening of a constituent assembly and propose a draft agreement for the creation of the association.

The constituent assembly is convened by an invitation which must be posted in a visible and generally accessible place in the building. The invitation must state the agenda, the place, the date and the time of the assembly, and the draft agreement for the creation of the association must be attached to it.

At the constituent assembly, the condominium owners must:

  • Take a decision to establish the association.
  • Determine the name of the association, which must include the name of the locality and the full administrative address, and – in towns with district divisions – also the name of the district.
  • Adopt an agreement for the creation of the association.
  • Elect a management board (or a manager) and a control board (or a controller).

If the association is established for the specific purpose of participating in a particular funding programme, the constituent assembly may set a term for its existence.

The agreement for the creation of the association must include:

  • The name and address of the association.
  • The subject of activity.
  • The procedure for adopting decisions.
  • The composition, mandate and organisation of work of the management and control boards.
  • Other conditions agreed between the owners.

The minutes of the constituent assembly and the adopted agreement must be signed by all members or their representatives.

Registration of an Owners' Association

Within 14 days of the constituent assembly, the chair of the management board (or the manager) must file an application for entry of the association in the municipality's public register.

The following documents are attached to the registration application:

  • A list of the owners participating in the association, with their names and addresses in the building.
  • The minutes of the constituent assembly.
  • The invitation to hold the constituent assembly.
  • A record of the posting of the invitation.
  • The agreement for the creation of the association.
  • Notarised specimens of the signatures of the persons representing the association.

Registration in the municipality's public register is free of charge. After the entry, the municipality issues a certificate of registration of the association.

Within 7 days of receiving the certificate, the management board (or the manager) must file an application for registration in the BULSTAT Register. The fee for entry in the Register is BGN 10.

If you wish to register an Owners' Association, we can prepare the necessary documents and carry out the entire registration procedure on your behalf, wherever in Bulgaria your building is located. You may send your enquiry by e-mail: [email protected], stating a contact telephone number on which we can reach you, call us on telephone 0887550706, or send an enquiry directly from here.