Is it possible to register permanent residence in a holiday property?

In recent years, due to changes in lifestyle, greater work flexibility and the search for a quieter living environment, questions about the possibility of living in properties originally intended for holidays and occasional retreats have been increasingly common. Contributing to this are the rising prices of residential real estate, which encourage people to look for alternative solutions for setting up a permanent home.

In practice, the question often arises whether it is possible to register permanent residence in such properties. The answer is – in typical legal fashion – “yes, but under certain conditions.” These conditions are precisely defined by law and are thoroughly checked by administrative units with each application.

The Residence Registration Act stipulates that the building or part of the building in which an individual wishes to register permanent residence must be intended for residential use or accommodation. The key factor is the official designated use of the property, which must be properly recorded in the Real Estate Register. Among the types of properties that can serve as the basis for registering permanent residence are in particular: single-dwelling buildings (code 1110), two-dwelling buildings (code 11210), multi-dwelling buildings (code 11220), and other residential buildings intended for specific social groups – if they meet legal conditions. Specific examples that may fit this definition include houses, villas, terraced houses, country houses or even holiday cottages – but only on the condition that they are registered as dwellings within a single-dwelling building and that their actual use is intended for living, not merely for temporary holiday enjoyment.

To register permanent residence, the property must also provide sufficient usable floor area, adapted to the number of persons to be registered at the address. These conditions are defined in the Rules on Determining Floor Space Standards for Residence Registration, which prescribe a minimum surface area per individual.

In addition, the property must be properly recorded in the Land Register and correctly categorized in the Real Estate Register, where its type and intended use must be clearly defined. This information is publicly accessible via the websites of the Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia (GURS), where it is evident whether the property is registered as a residential building or as a holiday property without residential use.

It is also recommended to obtain location information, which is issued by the competent municipal authority or administrative unit. This is an official document that contains key information on the land use designation, applicable spatial planning acts and construction conditions for the specific parcel. The location information allows insight into whether the land or property can be used for permanent residence or only for holiday purposes. It therefore represents a fundamental tool for verifying the possibility of registering permanent residence and especially the feasibility of a potential change of use in the selected area. You can read more about this document at the following link: https://bazarealestate.com/si/lokacijska-informacija-o-namenski-rabi-zemljisca/

When registering permanent residence, the administrative unit checks various data from official records, including the Land Register, Real Estate Register, record of actual use of buildings, and, if necessary, the right to reside (e.g. ownership, lease, easement, etc.).

If the holiday home meets all the above-mentioned conditions – it has residential status, meets the space criteria and is intended for living – registration of permanent residence is generally possible. Otherwise, if the property is recorded in the register as a holiday home or as a property without residential use, it is not possible to register permanent residence until the appropriate change of use has been made. This procedure must be carried out at the competent administrative unit.

For owners who plan to register permanent residence in such a property, it is advised to first verify the actual status of the property in all relevant records and, if necessary, seek professional advice from the competent administrative unit or a real estate lawyer.

In this spirit, we present a property from our portfolio that, with its location and characteristics, offers excellent potential for setting up a permanent home:
https://bazarealestate.com/si/nepremicnine/pocitniski-objekt-varazdin/.