"According to official census data, there are more than 70,000 empty apartments in Montenegro, while an additional almost 90,000 are used exclusively seasonally. This means that over 160,000 housing units are not functional for the lives of citizens," they said in a statement.
At the same time, they say, tens of thousands of families and individuals do not have a resolved housing issue and are forced to live as tenants – often without a contract, without legal protection and under constant risk of sudden eviction.
"This paradox clearly shows that the problem in Montenegro is not a lack of apartments, but a complete lack of regulated housing policy and market control. Of particular concern is the fact that a significant part of the rental market takes place in the gray zone - without registration, without contracts and without paying taxes. This leaves tenants without any protection, while the state loses control over one of the key sectors," they point out.
The Tenants' Association of Montenegro asks an open question:
Is this situation a consequence of institutional inefficiency or conscious tolerance of a system that favors a narrow circle of investors and rentiers?
If urgent action is not taken, the consequences will be serious and long-term:
- housing will become unattainable for most citizens
- rental and real estate prices will continue to rise uncontrollably
- young people and families will be forced to leave the country
- cities will turn into investment zones without real life
- Montenegro will become a country of permanent tenants
"It is also worrying that solutions are still being sought exclusively in new construction, through projects like Velje Brdo, while the existing housing stock is not being used. Without regulating the system, each new project risks becoming another investment, rather than a solution for citizens," they said.
The Tenants' Association of Montenegro demands an urgent response from the state and the establishment of a clear, responsible and sustainable housing policy.
They are looking for:
- introduction of mandatory contracts and legal protection of tenants
- effective control of the rental market
- measures that will discourage keeping apartments empty
- combating the grey economy in the real estate rental sector
"Housing must not be a privilege, but a fundamental right of every citizen. Otherwise, Montenegro will enter a phase of permanent housing insecurity with incalculable social and economic consequences," they concluded in a statement.
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