Buying a place in MominaTsarkva

Hello Steve310,

Please note that a new thread has been created on the Bulgaria forum with your post so that it gains more visibility and increases responses you may receive.

Thanks,

Diksha

I'm not in BG yet, but I have visited a number of times.

I don't know about planning permission for new outbuildings and accessory buildings. I know for houses, you don't need a permit as long as whatever you build has the same footprint as the house on the skitsa does. You can build wooden chalets on land classified as forest without needing a permit, but that may not apply with a village house. You may find rather than building new chalets you can use what's there - rebuild and convert existing outbuildings. Most village houses will have a barn and other sheds, though they may be in bad shape. The village mayor will be able to tell you what permissions are or aren't needed.

Solar - hope so, as I want to set up solar panels, too! I should think Bulgaria gets enough sun to make solar cost effective. There's a place in Burgas that sells solar electric systems, so you might want to talk to them (not sure if they speak English).

Unless things have changed since last time we were there, you may want to take some tea bags. Bulgarians mostly drink coffee, and if you want tea you may be asked if you are sick. Tea there is mostly herbal and used as medicine. The bigger supermarkets did sell cheren chai, black tea, but hubby said it was not as enjoyable as his usual tea!

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Finally got the keys and the contract though over the weekend. Now all set for a visit to see what I bought

Anybody got info on a decent Solar Panel company? Or even an Electrician/Plumber as J can’t do a lot from the UK

Good luck! Hope it all works out well for you.

There are a few solar system companies in Burgas - a quick internet search on "solar Burgas" will bring them up. I haven't contacted any of them, but looks like they are used to installing complete systems.

Goodluck and well done you Steve 310

Just be positive and minded.

Regards

Nawal

Thanks Gumma. im very positive and very open minded. If theres anything I can do for you give me a shout

Will do fella. Solar Panels contact made with a company in Burgas. Made contact with an Electrician also. So just waiting now

@Steve310 You'll need permission for building a granny flat, garage or farming shelter (for pigs, cows, horses etc.).The chalet can be classed as category 5 property up to 10m height and 1000 sq m area.  If you're thinking about turning them into guest houses and charging rent then you'll need to pay tax on the income as a business but I guess that's too far in the future and the regulations may change. This article is the very basic description of the classification of 'сглобяема къща', just use Google translate [link moderated]

@krisbrownsunderland Hi Kris. Do you need planning permission for a loft conversion in a house located in a regulated area? What about a roof replacement alone?

@janemulberry english tea is available.in most supermarkets.

@wtruckyboy  Availability of English tea depends where you are. You may live in an area with more Brits so it's worth the supermarket stocking it. It's not the same in all areas., definitely not in the region my house is in.

@janemulberry Hello Jane,

you can really build wooden chalets in a forest without permission?

do you know if they can have cement foundations and have stuff like electricity/sewage/water or have a well and solar(that you know of)?

Do they have also limitations for the building?

Cheers,

Yuri

Yuri, I don't own forest land so I don't know this for sure. My understanding is that only temporary dwellings are allowed. That would probably exclude concrete foundations. I am not sure whether a permit would be required or whether such a property could count as a permanent residence. It would need to be something quite small and simple, I think. I hope someone with more knowledge will reply!

Electricity would need to be off-grid solar as most forest blocks wouldn't have electricity and the cost to get it brought in would be huge. The same with water. Sewage would need to be managed onsite - most village houses don't have mains sewage. Access might be an issue as well. All the forest blocks I've seen for sale have dirt tracks as access that may not be passable in winter without a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

@Steve310

Afternoon neighbor

We have also just purchased a house in the same village and plan Tobe there end of may,after renting for a few years not far from village...if you can let me no how you got on with your hunt for Tradesmen, plumber etc...As will require assistance on that front ..Good Luck with your Bulgarian Adventure

@janemulberry just ordered tea from the British Corner Shop. co.uk   made a large order, including custard, marmite marmalade, hot cross buns, crumpets etc., arrived in 5 days.

@janemulberry just ordered tea from the British Corner Shop. co.uk  made a large order, including custard, marmite marmalade, hot cross buns, crumpets etc., arrived in 5 days.
-@cyberescue1

Good to know! Thank you!

I want to try to use local products where available, but some things just aren't available and other times I know hubby will want some British stuff.

Unfortunately, since Brexit, their delivery charges are expensive & Bulgaria attracts an additional surcharge by the courier, pushing the delivery charge up from £4.99 to around £20. In the past we have shared the cost of delivery with friends. If you can bag things in the sale, all well & good, as the British corner shop double the price ( sometimes even more than that ) on a lot of their products.

I think it would be special occasion only shopping, for sure!

Hi expats. New to this forum. I have been considering moving to BG for many years and now that I have retired I think the move will happen soon. I saw the discussion regarding British groceries. Isn't Lidl in most of the major cities ? Do Lidl not sell the same groceries in BG as they do in UK?

No Lidl don't sell the same stuff here in Bulgaria, I've seen cartons of pigs ears and the rear ends of chicken in their freezers. I've seen so called English eat which is in fact fruit tea. You can if lucky get bacon smoked, unsmoked and " cooking bacon" which is the ends and other lumps after the main bit is sliced up but it's costly. And I've been living here for a while and been in many different supermarket's and still haven't found dried peas, so no homemade pea and ham soup.

    Hi expats. New to this forum. I have been considering moving to BG for many years and now that I have retired I think the move will happen soon. I saw the discussion regarding British groceries. Isn't Lidl in most of the major cities ? Do Lidl not sell the same groceries in BG as they do in UK?
   

    -@derekhandyman

Although Lidl is a German-owned shop, it caters for the food tastes of the country it operates in. You won't find PG Tips tea bags in the likes of Lidl or Aldi. Over the years, I've noticed they are getting better at selling some British goods/brands in mainland Europe.

Tescos in Hungary makes me laugh. They use British packets of crisps and sick a label on the package with Hungarian writing on them.

Thanks guys for the info. Looks like one of my trips will be filled with tea bags and dried peas. lol

    Thanks guys for the info. Looks like one of my trips will be filled with tea bags and dried peas. lol
   

    -@derekhandyman

In Austria, they do sell Tea bags, "Twinings" but not PG Tips or Yorkshire Tea bags. As I don't drink the stuff I'm not fussed.

I'm sure will be able to buy Tea in BG, but not the brands you are used to.

I do know in Austria, Hungary and Germany twice a year they will do British weeks, selling British Ale, bacon, cheese, sausages etc... So maybe they do in BG?

There are businesses that cater for Brits in Bulgaria, including one that delivers a range of British groceries. Veliko Tarnovo used to have a British food shop, and many other big towns where there are plenty of Brits do, too.

Black tea in Bulgaria is sold in the supermarkets as cheren chai. Hubby tells me it's drinkable, just! Green tea and herbal teas are readily available. Our nearest small town has a tea and coffee shop that sells a wonderful range.

@Steve310

Hello Steve, I've lived here in Momina Tsarkva for four years now. I have three properties here that need attention. At the moment I live in an American motorhome on the east side of the village. It peaceful here and good places to walk. When are you going to be here?

       Regards Tony

@Steve310

Hello Steve, I've been off grid for four years with panels I brought from the UK. I do see others setting up large systems here in Momina Tsarkva but don't know what company they are using Practica in Burgas sells systems, the panels are reasonably priced. Look for me when you get here. Stand on the hill on the Eastern side and you'll see my motorhome.

Regards Tony