tag: real estate

So far, it has been relatively easy for neighbours and other stakeholders to challenge the building permit of a major development project during the licensing process. This situation created major potential for extortion for these individuals. However, with the amendment of the building regulations, which came into effect on 1 March, this vulnerability would appear to have been eliminated.

The challenge to mitigate climate change is now present in every industry, and not surprisingly in the construction sector as well. Yet the building regulations adopted for this purpose often give rise to controversy and, in many cases, pose a serious challenge to participants in the domestic real estate market.

A trendy investment product of recent years has been solar energy projects: under the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme, the government guarantees what looks like a cash cow for all those who choose to seek their fortune in this sector. But as is usually the case, this money won’t just fall into your lap. Without the necessary professional expertise or the proper legal groundwork, solar power projects can easily run out of steam too.

With almost ten years of hindsight we can safely say that although the construction trusteeship system created to prevent circular debt in the construction industry has essentially lived up to expectations, the system still has some unresolved flaws. What’s more, the taking effect of the new Civil Procedure Code  this January will present a further challenge for the system.

Under a less-known rule of the new Civil Code it’s now possible for a property owner to separate the titles to a plot of land and the buildings built on it, and to manage or commercially exploit these as separate properties. Businesses are taking a cautious approach to making use of this opportunity in practice: although splitting titles can make property development or borrowing more flexible, for the time being legal uncertainties are preventing it from becoming more widespread.

The Performance Certification Expert Board (PCEB) is playing an increasingly important role in disputes between construction-industry firms. Nevertheless, a few legal questions relating to the PCEB remain to be clarified, including that of for how long an expert opinion issued by the organisation can prevent the enforcement of contractual security (e.g. a bank guarantee). Until this issue is resolved, a party to the dispute that would otherwise possess legitimate security could be put at a disadvantage.

Back in the day, buyers and sellers were better off selling shares in a company with possession of the property, rather than the property itself; but over the years, legislators have chipped away steadily at the benefits of acquiring property through a company purchase. Contrary to common belief, however, buying real estate through a company can still bring a number of tax advantages; and the range of these is set to expand from January of next year.

The recent amendment of the Luxembourg - Hungary double tax treaty will result in a sharp decrease of Luxembourg-based schemes for Hungarian real estate transactions. Those groups which currently use such schemes for holding their Hungarian real estates will need to react fast.