Types of apartments in Bulgaria: apartment, studio, maisonette, atelier

The property market in Bulgaria offers various types of real estate along the seaside — on the first, second and third lines, in the city or in villages.

Today we will look at the different types of apartments, their features, advantages and disadvantages, and what you need to know when purchasing each type of property. In Bulgaria you can buy: apartments, a studio, a maisonette, or an atelier.

Our clients often ask what the difference is between an apartment and a flat.

Apartments are, as a rule, housing units in a gated complex where there is on-site service — a management company that takes care of cleanliness and order. The infrastructure of the complex varies: swimming pool, spa centre, fitness room, children's playground, animation — in short, everything for the comfort of residents and guests.

Sometimes a residential complex has such large and developed infrastructure — for example, Green Life Sozopol — that you never need to leave its grounds; it is a town within a town.  

The main types of Bulgarian apartments are: studio, atelier, apartment with 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms, maisonette, penthouse. Let's take a closer look at what each of them is.

Studio — a residential unit consisting of a hallway (sometimes without one), a room (which combines a bedroom and a kitchen), a terrace/balcony, and a bathroom.

The average area of a studio in Bulgaria is 30 sq.m – 40 sq.m.

Atelier — a non-residential unit designed for creative activities.

There is no legal definition in the Spatial Planning Act. The difference lies in the requirements that apply to a residential apartment versus a non-residential studio/room.

An apartment must have at least one living space, a bath-toilet, a storage area — a wardrobe, an attic or a cellar, which may be located outside the outline of the dwelling; the living rooms and kitchens must have windows; at least one of the rooms in the residential unit must not face north, north-west or north-east; the clear ceiling height must be at least 2.60 m, and so on.

The only requirement for an atelier is a separate bathroom (toilet with a wash basin).

Is it worth buying an atelier, and what are the pros and cons?

The cost of this type of property is significantly lower than that of an apartment or a flat. Most Bulgarian families live in ateliers. The downside is that a non-resident of the country cannot obtain a residence permit or permanent residence in Bulgaria through it.

Apartment — a residential unit consisting of a kitchen-studio plus bedrooms. The more spacious the apartment, the more bathrooms and balconies it has. 

Maisonette — a residential unit, a two-storey apartment which can consist of several bedrooms, bathrooms and terraces. Maisonettes in Bulgaria are usually located on the ground or top floors.

Penthouse — a word that stands for luxury and exclusivity. According to the well-known theme song of “The Jeffersons”, it is  that “deluxe apartment in the sky”. A flat on the top floor of a building or the most first-class residence.

The difference between the terms “residential complex”, “residential building” and “apart-hotel”

Residential complex — a property located in an urban area, with infrastructure such as security, reception, swimming pool and fitness room. When buying an apartment in a residential complex, you need to take into account additional costs in the form of maintenance fees — paid monthly or annually.

A residential building does not have a maintenance fee. A house manager or a private management company is chosen, and each month you only pay for the lift, cleaning of the common parts of the building and, if desired, video surveillance.

Apart-hotel — resort property located by the sea, in the mountains or at balneological resorts. These are gated complexes with infrastructure. The maintenance cost is on average from 6–18 euros/sq.m per year.

Bulgaria Avenue will be delighted to help you select the type of property you are interested in, weigh up the advantages and disadvantages, and together choose the best and most interesting option.