economy
February 22, 2026
Will properties registered under the new legalization law be eligible for a mortgage?
According to banking practices and laws in Serbia, only legalized real estate (apartments or houses) can serve as collateral for a loan through a mortgage.
TL;DR
- A new Serbian law allows for the registration of property rights in the cadastre without full legalization (construction and usage permits).
- Traditionally, only fully legalized properties can be used as mortgage collateral in Serbia.
- Banks view properties without permits as a risk and may reject mortgage applications or demand extra collateral.
- The National Bank of Serbia expects these registered properties to be accepted by banks as collateral, acknowledging potential ambiguities.
- Individual banks will decide whether to accept these properties as collateral based on their internal risk assessments.
- The presence of a title owner increases the likelihood of acceptance, but lack of permits remains a significant hurdle, especially for buildings.
- Banks are unlikely to lower their criteria for collateral and will likely seek additional guarantees if permits are missing.
- Aik Bank has stated they will accept mortgages under the new law, applying the same conditions as for other properties and conducting individual assessments.
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