Digest of Key International Real Estate News | 11.06 – 17.06

The week was marked by a series of scandals across several real estate markets. In Lithuania, a massive data leak involving property and ownership records was discovered. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, large-scale deforestation and illegal land sales were uncovered, while in Bulgaria a major complex in a premium location was reportedly built without proper permits.

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Data leak in Lithuania exposes real estate registry risks

Lithuania is investigating a major incident involving a possible breach of state registry systems. More than 600,000 records may have been illegally copied, including real estate and corporate data. The incident is among the largest cybersecurity breaches affecting the country’s digital infrastructure and raises concerns over the security of property transactions and mortgages.

Bosnia’s forests sold for villa development

Land in Bosnia and Herzegovina is being rapidly acquired by investors from the Gulf states. In the Dobro village area near Visoko, around 18 hectares of forest (roughly 25 football fields) have been cleared, with damages estimated at $90,000. Foreigners are officially prohibited from purchasing land, while many of the sold plots fall within protected environmental zones where construction is restricted or banned.

Construction scandal hits Bulgaria

A controversy is unfolding in Bulgaria over a large complex in the Baba Alino area between the Golden Sands resort and the Aladzha Monastery, north of Varna. On a 10-hectare site, 104 buildings are being constructed without valid permits. The project has been ongoing since 2023, with initial complaints related to tree cutting, which reportedly received no response from authorities.

Bali introduces villa classification and tightens rental control

Bali is considering a new rating system for private villas, from 1 to 5 stars, similar to hotels. The island has around 12,000 accommodation units, while approximately 1,600 illegal listings have been identified on online platforms. Authorities plan to share lists of non-compliant properties with Booking.com and Airbnb starting June 2, while owners are required to complete registration by August 1, 2026.

Abu Dhabi freezes rent increases

Abu Dhabi has temporarily banned rent increases across residential, commercial, and industrial properties. The new regulation is already in force and removes the previous system that allowed annual increases of up to 5% with two months’ notice to tenants.

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