The Department of Town Planning has so far received few applications under the plan announced by the Ministry of Interior, which aims to legalize unauthorized constructions in houses and apartments. However, a different trend is observed in the market, as citizens are actively seeking civil engineers and architects.

This is because applications for planning amnesty must be submitted by a licensed professional, either a civil engineer or an architect. The limited number of applications thus far can be attributed to this requirement, as citizens first need to find an engineer or architect who will gather the necessary documents, prepare the study, and then submit the application. This process requires both time and money.

Professionals have informed Brief that the cost for preparing the necessary study and submitting the application may start at €800-€1,000 and can reach several thousand euros, depending on the case and its complexity. In addition to these expenses, homeowners must also pay a fee to the state to legalize the unauthorized structure.

For example, the cost of legalizing a pergola could exceed €3,000 when factoring in the professional's fees along with the additional €2,000-€3,000 required to "purchase" the legality of the structure.

During discussions with citizens, several questions were raised regarding unauthorized constructions in apartments.

According to the Ministry of Interior’s clarifications, the plan also applies to apartment buildings, but only for individual residential units if the required Form EA is signed by all co-owners, regardless of whether separate property titles have been issued.

As a result, if the application is not properly signed, it will not be accepted by the Planning Authority. The plan specifies that in cases of apartment buildings, the provisions of Article 90(5) of the Town and Country Planning Law cannot be applied.