JimJ
English expat in Bulgaria
Forum posts
1637
About me
English
Speaks Greek, English, French, Bulgarian, German
Registration: 07 December 2015
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
So do we call you the $6M man now? Congrats and I'll drink to a quick recovery tonight. - @grshaw30 The Memsaab isn't permitting me any alcoholic libation for the moment (darned ABs!), so sparkling water is the best I can manage...but I thank you ... Read More
Company query by jeanmandredeix
We are here on Visa D retirement from UK and I have noticed that our electricity and water bills are in the dormant company name.Is this correct? Or should it be in my name?
Depending on your supplier, you may have an uphill struggle to get the bill put in your name. Some electricity companies have a policy that since a company owns the property but rents it out, then they're still supplying a commercial entity, ie a ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
Well, I'm happy to say that I went up the whole 77 steps without a break on my return home today (actually not 100% true - I did stop once inside to cuddle the cats, before continuing up to the bedroom). I have new painkillers to try, which I hope ... Read More
(Dis)Organised Crime in Bulgaria.... by JimJ
A gang of Master Counterfeiters has just been busted in Bulgaria: apparently their fake banknotes are of "very good quality" but their education is clearly of a somewhat lesser standard*. They managed to call Aleko Konstantinov (whose portrait is ...
@JimJ I see the post I was talking about is now gone. Read More
(Dis)Organised Crime in Bulgaria.... by JimJ
A gang of Master Counterfeiters has just been busted in Bulgaria: apparently their fake banknotes are of "very good quality" but their education is clearly of a somewhat lesser standard*. They managed to call Aleko Konstantinov (whose portrait is ...
@biscamelot Seriously? You do know that it's the 21st Century, don't you? I can't believe that I'm reading such bigoted nonsense...😡 Read More
(Dis)Organised Crime in Bulgaria.... by JimJ
A gang of Master Counterfeiters has just been busted in Bulgaria: apparently their fake banknotes are of "very good quality" but their education is clearly of a somewhat lesser standard*. They managed to call Aleko Konstantinov (whose portrait is ...
@biscamelot In your dreams! While it's true that there aren't really any more Russian gangs operating here at street level, like there were in the 1990s and early 2000s, they're still very much alive and kicking. Groups like the Solntsevskaya and ... Read More
D Visa Guidance by gwynj
[b]INTRODUCTION[/b] I have posted much of this information in reply to several forum posts, but I think it might be helpful to have it one place. Following Brexit (and the end of the Transition period i.e. from 1/1/21), British citizens now need ...
@janemulberry Doing a pretty good impression of Chester in "Gunsmoke".. 🤠It's going slowly: my "good" leg has been bone on bone.for a couple of years and the new extra strain has tipped it over the edge. An intramuscular combination of ... Read More
D Visa Guidance by gwynj
[b]INTRODUCTION[/b] I have posted much of this information in reply to several forum posts, but I think it might be helpful to have it one place. Following Brexit (and the end of the Transition period i.e. from 1/1/21), British citizens now need ...
@sammibenfell18 He'd still need to register a company is he's a TCN.Make sure that you give him a notarised tenancy agreement specifying that he will immediately leave the property at the end/cancellation of the agreement. Get a competent Bulgarian ... Read More
D Visa Guidance by gwynj
[b]INTRODUCTION[/b] I have posted much of this information in reply to several forum posts, but I think it might be helpful to have it one place. Following Brexit (and the end of the Transition period i.e. from 1/1/21), British citizens now need ...
@sammibenfell18 Having an address is only part of the requirements - things have tightened up quite a bit over the past few years and there are quite a few additional hoops to just through (nothing like in other, stricter, countries like Greece etc, ... Read More
Scaffolding vailable in Bulgaria? by cs75
Hi , are tube and board type scaffolding available in Bulgaria or is it mostly ally towers etc ?Ive seen some fb marketplace adverts for steel tube priced per foot but can't see any boards or fittings for this type of scaffold ?
Just type скеле под наем and your location into Google Maps or one of the big sell/buy sites (bazar, olx et al) and Bob's your uncle.. Read More
D Visa Guidance by gwynj
[b]INTRODUCTION[/b] I have posted much of this information in reply to several forum posts, but I think it might be helpful to have it one place. Following Brexit (and the end of the Transition period i.e. from 1/1/21), British citizens now need ...
@sammibenfell18 Be careful! As regards the post-Brexit property, legally-speaking your husband doesn't own it; it's owned by the company. He can't rent it out, the company does. If the company rents it out, it is no longer non-trading, will have to ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
Okay - The Eagle Has Pooped! Only a couple of walnuts but I'll take what I can get..After that I did a few rounds of the ward with my walker but the novelty soon wore off, so I managed to do a couple more with my jolly old bastoun..Now huffing and ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
Good news! I've been unable to produce even a flicker of life from my thigh muscles, let alone raise my straight leg even a millimetre, and the physios don't work at the weekend ( and aren't much cop here anyway). I've had to improvise a sling to ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
I'm not sure how devout Muslims, Jews or veggies would fare here: some form of pork is served for pretty much every meal - apart from chicken a coupleof times. Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
I may have solved the Cardie Case - she came in this morning without it; both arms are covered in tats. She put in a new canula yesterday evening, which promptly fell out during the night - it took three tries to get another one in..I was also ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
@SimCityAT Mine's midway between the last two: I told my wife that my.life depended on slurping down a few cold beers but she looked as unconvinced as the nurses... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
My urine is very dark but the docs and nurses never look at the bag, and the cleaners just drain it into a bowl and throw it down the dunny. I'm going to die of dehydration just to spite them all! 😎 Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
@janemulberry I'm now the proud user of a raised loo seat with built-in grab rails. Today is Day 3 post-op and I'm still not getting a flicker out of my left thigh, which means I can't straighten my leg to get into position to use the walker without ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
Well, I'm still alive - but the kicking part is definitely wishful thinking!I'm sort of moving about; they've given me rather rickety walker and I'm still on my tod in a "private" room: their bumf tells you the extra cost for this privilege but the ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
Well, I've survived this afternoon's operation - so far. It was a little disconcerting to lie on an operating table, completely conscious, listening to electric saws essentially amputating the lower half of your leg and then hefty hammers banging ... Read More
Question re translated documents for D visa by janemulberry
I'm trying to get my D visa paperwork sorted out as quickly as possible, but have a problem with delays getting my apostilled documents back. I know I need to submit apostilled documents, but the question is, does the translation need to be done on ...
@janemulberry I'm just waiting to get wheeled down to the Butcher's Shop.. Read More
Question re translated documents for D visa by janemulberry
I'm trying to get my D visa paperwork sorted out as quickly as possible, but have a problem with delays getting my apostilled documents back. I know I need to submit apostilled documents, but the question is, does the translation need to be done on ...
If I'm following your question correctly, you need to send the document and its attached apostille to be translated. The apostille is as important as the original document, and the translation should include the complete wording and content of the ... Read More
Capital gains tax when selling property by Jules999
Apologies if this subject has been covered in a previous post. We are hoping to sell our house which is company owned. One agent informed us that there would be no tax to pay because we have lived in the property for over 10 years, and the most ...
[Post under review] Read More
BGP.bg no longer trading? by AMK888
Hi everyone,I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.Back in 2007, my family purchased a few small rural properties near Valchi Dol. As was common at the time, we were advised to set up Bulgarian companies to own the land. The ...
@AMK888 They haven't filed any company returns since 2015 and abandoned their domain in 2018. If they're still answering emails that tends to suggest that they're just trying to make a few untaxed pennies as individuals. They haven't advertised any ... Read More
BGP.bg no longer trading? by AMK888
Hi everyone,I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.Back in 2007, my family purchased a few small rural properties near Valchi Dol. As was common at the time, we were advised to set up Bulgarian companies to own the land. The ...
The company seems to have stopped trading about 10 years ago and their domain registration lapsed in 2018, if that's of any use/interest to you 😊 Read More
BGP.bg no longer trading? by AMK888
Hi everyone,I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.Back in 2007, my family purchased a few small rural properties near Valchi Dol. As was common at the time, we were advised to set up Bulgarian companies to own the land. The ...
Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. Back in 2007, my family purchased a few small rural properties near Valchi Dol. As was common at the time, we were advised to set up Bulgarian companies to own the land. The ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
@grshaw30 I've been here a pretty long time now, over 20 years, and of course my wife's lived in BG all her life (so far 😎) We've both found the health system here to be something of a curate's egg, and on several occasions we've been ... Read More
Capital gains tax when selling property by Jules999
Apologies if this subject has been covered in a previous post. We are hoping to sell our house which is company owned. One agent informed us that there would be no tax to pay because we have lived in the property for over 10 years, and the most ...
@Jules999 I'll try and create a post setting out an outline of the various options and what each involves. I'm afraid that the basic takeaway is that whichever route you take, you're going to be forking out several thousand euros that you wouldn't ... Read More
Capital gains tax when selling property by Jules999
Apologies if this subject has been covered in a previous post. We are hoping to sell our house which is company owned. One agent informed us that there would be no tax to pay because we have lived in the property for over 10 years, and the most ...
Unfortunately, the rules above don't cover property held through a company and getting around the tax liability is nowhere near as simple as is sometimes assumed. If you don't structure the sale properly you can get a good kicking from the taxman.As ... Read More
Capital gains tax when selling property by Jules999
Apologies if this subject has been covered in a previous post. We are hoping to sell our house which is company owned. One agent informed us that there would be no tax to pay because we have lived in the property for over 10 years, and the most ...
There is no "10 years" involved but there ARE 3- and 5-year rules: when you own property directly you can sell one property per year with no CGT or other tax, provided you've owned it at least 3 years. If you own more than one residential property ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
@Zooldrool Nope - but we do live in a house in a "Villa Zone" on the side of a mountain. Our garden is terraced and slopes up to the house from street level at roughly 45° and our garages are essentially built into the side of the mountain, ie ... Read More
Capital gains tax when selling property by Jules999
Apologies if this subject has been covered in a previous post. We are hoping to sell our house which is company owned. One agent informed us that there would be no tax to pay because we have lived in the property for over 10 years, and the most ...
It's a minefield! I'm in the same predicament with one property and there appears to be a couple of ways of approaching a sale, with differing tax implications. So far it's clear that closing the company and transferring the assets into your own ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
@grshaw30 It was a toss-up between SofiaMed and Vita 2. My main criterion was which surgeon was going to do it rather than where; I did a lot of research before choosing. It was originally going to be SofiaMed and I'd have no reluctance in using the ... Read More
Medical treatment in BG by JimJ
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ...
First hurdle cleared: I've found a blood donor for the single unit I'll need during the op. It's a crazy system here... Read More
Medical treatment in BG
Stand by for more reporting on hospital treatment here in BG fairly soon...I'm going in for a TKR (Total Knee Replacement) on Tuesday and should be out of hospital in about 6 days, following a bit of rehab. First challenge will be getting up those ... Read More
Getting around with your pet in Bulgaria by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Living in Bulgaria with a pet also means learning how to navigate local transport systems together. From daily commutes to occasional trips, you have to navigate betwwen local rules and real-life experiences. Whether you’re ...
Pet dogs must be microchipped and have a "pet passport" with details of vaccinations, even if they never leave the country. You must register your dog with the municipality (and pay the dog tax).Cats don't require chips if they are strictly indoor ... Read More
Question on Company by jeanmandredeix
We have just changed our company to Euros but I do have a couple of questions in regard to utilities.Do you have to pay business rates on water and electric if you have a dormant company?If you don’t, is there anywhere on facture to indicate ...
The question of whether you pay business or houseold rates for utilities seems to vary from region to region. It used to be the case that businesses paid higher electricity prices but nowadays for reasons discussed previously, business rates ... Read More
Does my rental contract have to be notarized by JuilaOui
In order to get the Residence Permit (Certificate) in Sofia, Bulgaria ? I am an EU citizen but my landlord lives overseas.Thanks for your feedback.Julia
@gwynj Indeed - things here in BG are pretty lax in comparison with most other EU countries, especially Greece where there seems to be a hidden agenda to keep out as many TCNs as possible, which makes life rather difficult for the latter-day Shirley ... Read More
Does my rental contract have to be notarized by JuilaOui
In order to get the Residence Permit (Certificate) in Sofia, Bulgaria ? I am an EU citizen but my landlord lives overseas.Thanks for your feedback.Julia
They might accept a French EHIC - but they shouldn't as it's only for emergency use. However, even if they do accept it to issue a residence permit it isn't valid for long term residence and you'll need to either register with NHIF (if you're ... Read More
Does my rental contract have to be notarized by JuilaOui
In order to get the Residence Permit (Certificate) in Sofia, Bulgaria ? I am an EU citizen but my landlord lives overseas.Thanks for your feedback.Julia
@JuilaOui As I mentioned before, not all landlords are agreeable to tenants being registered at their properties, so even if they live in BG it may not help. You need to let them know that this is a requirement before you sign a lease.. Read More
Does my rental contract have to be notarized by JuilaOui
In order to get the Residence Permit (Certificate) in Sofia, Bulgaria ? I am an EU citizen but my landlord lives overseas.Thanks for your feedback.Julia
@JuilaOui Everything depends on your lease agreement - the "standard" terms are: one year contract, renewable; one (sometimes two) months "security deposit"; one month's notice of termination from either side for any/no reason.Have a good look at ... Read More
Does my rental contract have to be notarized by JuilaOui
In order to get the Residence Permit (Certificate) in Sofia, Bulgaria ? I am an EU citizen but my landlord lives overseas.Thanks for your feedback.Julia
@sogy In the meantime, I cannot get into any long term contracts with other companies. - @JuilaOui Why not? In order to notarise a tenancy agreement, a notary requires proof of your identity and will ask you to declare your address. He/she has no ... Read More
Does anyone know where I can learn Bulgarian? by JuilaOui
And join a class but I am not interested in online classes. I live in Sofia.Thanks.Julia
I suspect every generation says the same thing! Though I do have concerns about AI dumbing people down, doing their thinking for them. Students will never learn to analyse what they read, critically think about it, and then synthesise their own ... Read More
Does anyone know where I can learn Bulgarian? by JuilaOui
And join a class but I am not interested in online classes. I live in Sofia.Thanks.Julia
If they rely on AI then we're doomed, I tell you - doomed! I use AI a lot but I spend more time marvelling at the "hallucinations" (a polite term for the totally bogus/manufactured pseudo-information that's all too often served up) than I ever save ... Read More
Carbon monoxide detector and fireproof boards by mickg
Hello, can anyone direct me to a company /companies or websites (in Bulgaria preferably) that sells carbon monoxide detectors and fireproof boarding (the type you can just put up and paint with heat resistant paint).I have a wood burner and want to ...
Still useful in event power cut, as 2 winters ago power was down for 3 days due to weather. - @mickg As I've mentioned in the past, we're hardy souls and rarely turn on the heating; we do have good insulation and our unheated kitchen has never ... Read More
Does my rental contract have to be notarized by JuilaOui
In order to get the Residence Permit (Certificate) in Sofia, Bulgaria ? I am an EU citizen but my landlord lives overseas.Thanks for your feedback.Julia
You need to be aware that under the Bulgarian Penal Code, Article 313, providing false information/documentation to a State Authority (eg the Migration Authority) is punishable by 3 years in prison and/or a hefty fine. It's also extremely ... Read More
Off topic - whats on your mind? by SimCityAT
As with a lot of Forums, there are dedicated posts in which members can talk about anything. They generally are for just chit-chat and as the Bulgaria Forum has a high volume of participants it's about time it had its own. You still have to abide by ...
I know the feeling! - @janemulberry Yet here we all are! 😂 Read More
Carbon monoxide detector and fireproof boards by mickg
Hello, can anyone direct me to a company /companies or websites (in Bulgaria preferably) that sells carbon monoxide detectors and fireproof boarding (the type you can just put up and paint with heat resistant paint).I have a wood burner and want to ...
@janemulberry Yeah, they work pretty well - too well for us! We gave ours away because the room got too warm....then we stopped using the petchka altogether. The one in my basement workshop is now an expensive drill stand 😁 Read More
Burgas airport transfer by Sleep Near
Hello, we will need a mini-van to transport four large luggage cases, plus carry-on and two adults from the Burgas airport to our hotel near the center. Three days later the same is needed to transport us to our apartment, also near the center. ...
You can usually order an extra-large taxi from the big firms if you arrange it in advance. Read More
Does my rental contract have to be notarized by JuilaOui
In order to get the Residence Permit (Certificate) in Sofia, Bulgaria ? I am an EU citizen but my landlord lives overseas.Thanks for your feedback.Julia
No, a rental agreement doesn't have to be notarised - people who are legally capable adults can make a legally binding contract with no notarisation (think phone contracts for example). Counter-intuitively, a tenant actually has less protection if ... Read More
Pay monthly companies by JosieCrew
Hi Everyone, I see bulgaria Direct and Mowlem recommended, but what are peoples' thoughts about bulgaria property finder .co.uk and bulgarian property finder .com? The names are very similar so there something we should be aware of there?Also, which ...
@JuilaOui Your problem is a common one for foreigners here but I'm not sure that it's relevant to the topic that was being discussed - it's aimed at buyers rather than renters.Many, but not all, landlords are chary about have tenants registered as ... Read More
Does anyone know where I can learn Bulgarian? by JuilaOui
And join a class but I am not interested in online classes. I live in Sofia.Thanks.Julia
@janemulberry One man's "evolving" is another man's "dumbing down"...😎 Read More
Does anyone know where I can learn Bulgarian? by JuilaOui
And join a class but I am not interested in online classes. I live in Sofia.Thanks.Julia
The problem with loan words in Bulgarian is that they often get mangled/garbled: eg a "digger" (not a bloke from Jane's homeland but a machine for digging holes/shifting earth etc) is a "bagger" in Bulgarian, from Bagger, the German firm which ... Read More
Why people buy in Bulgaria has quietly changed - has the advice? by Andreas0172
Something has shifted over the last year, and I don't think the conversation here has fully caught up with it.For a long time the pull of Bulgaria was simple: it was cheap. Cheap property, cheap living, a place to stretch a pension or a budget ...
@Andreas0172 I think we've all got the message - but I have to say that over the twenty-odd years I've lived here in BG (and in other countries before that) I've seen quite a few "Mr Fixits" tout their "encyclopaedic services" and then quietly fade ... Read More
Why people buy in Bulgaria has quietly changed - has the advice? by Andreas0172
Something has shifted over the last year, and I don't think the conversation here has fully caught up with it.For a long time the pull of Bulgaria was simple: it was cheap. Cheap property, cheap living, a place to stretch a pension or a budget ...
Property is still cheaper compared to other European countries. - @SimCityAT Depends on how you define "Europe": BG is certainly still the cheapest in the EU but property prices in several non-EU countries are even lower nowadays. Read More
Does anyone know where I can learn Bulgarian? by JuilaOui
And join a class but I am not interested in online classes. I live in Sofia.Thanks.Julia
@JuilaOui Click on a member's name and you'll get all the information that user has entered in the potted bio. I've heard tell that Jane used to "waltz Matildas" and scrag not so jolly jumbucks after an evening enjoying the fermented grape juice. ... Read More
Carbon monoxide detector and fireproof boards by mickg
Hello, can anyone direct me to a company /companies or websites (in Bulgaria preferably) that sells carbon monoxide detectors and fireproof boarding (the type you can just put up and paint with heat resistant paint).I have a wood burner and want to ...
I suspect that any problems were sorted out a couple of years ago... 😎 Read More
Off topic - whats on your mind? by SimCityAT
As with a lot of Forums, there are dedicated posts in which members can talk about anything. They generally are for just chit-chat and as the Bulgaria Forum has a high volume of participants it's about time it had its own. You still have to abide by ...
@janemulberry Are you sure you didn't mean "thirsty-something"...? 😎 Read More
AIR TO WATER UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEM by Janearnasalam
Hi all, so im looking for a company that offer and install an AIR TO WATER UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEM AND PUMP. I have wrote to many companies and none of them seem to respond. I'm traveling back over in July so if there any shops that I may visit ...
Jane is quite right - getting an answer to an email is very rare! Viber or WhatsApp are your best bets, with a Facebook message a distant third.. Read More
More Bot activity? by JimJ
I see we have a new "Bulgarian" member of the forum, featuring a poorly-doctored photo of journalist Maria Tsantsarova and the Dutch flag (presumably supposed to be the Russian one but someone got confused...😎)
I see we have a new "Bulgarian" member of the forum, featuring a poorly-doctored photo of journalist Maria Tsantsarova and the Dutch flag (presumably supposed to be the Russian one but someone got confused...😎) - @JimJ Why are YOU reporting ... Read More
More Bot activity?
I see we have a new "Bulgarian" member of the forum, featuring a poorly-doctored photo of journalist Maria Tsantsarova and the Dutch flag (presumably supposed to be the Russian one but someone got confused...😎) Read More
Labour rates by mickg
Hello, anyone have an idea as to cost of getting a electric emersion heater plumbed in, one that's rated less than 3kw so in theory should not need to be hard wired in, just plug in type.Hate doing plumbing myself, spent hours trying to fix leaks ...
In our village house we found that one 80-litre boiler worked fine for four people, provided everyone didn't want a shower at the same time. I had a 100-litre one plumbed in to work in tandem with the 80, ie both feeding everywhere, but in the ... Read More
Labour rates by mickg
Hello, anyone have an idea as to cost of getting a electric emersion heater plumbed in, one that's rated less than 3kw so in theory should not need to be hard wired in, just plug in type.Hate doing plumbing myself, spent hours trying to fix leaks ...
Are you talking about a standard "boiler", usually wall-mounted? They're almost invariably rated at 3kw, so can run from a standard 16-amp Shuko socket. It doesn't hurt to have it controlled by a separate wall switch; personally, I prefer to run ... Read More
Bought in Bulgaria — and then what? The gap nobody prepares you for by Andreas0172
Most of the conversation on this forum — quite rightly — focuses on buying: lawyers, notaries, due diligence, price negotiation, which areas to consider.What gets almost no attention is what happens the day after completion.You own a ...
@jeanmandredeix The trouble with an "installer and supplier of septic tanks" that can do a quick job is that it takes a long time to get the required permissions and approval from the municipality. So the chances are that it's an illegal ... Read More
Lintels - Where can We buy them? by jeanmandredeix
We are having trouble sourcing lintels and also acrows. We are in the north east. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Strewth! I don't know what my keyboard's been up to - it seems to have a secret life... Read More
Cost of moving by Jules999
Hi It's been quite some years since we purchased a property in Bulgaria & we've never sold one. Could somebody advise what the current costs involved to buy are.......as well as the costs involved in selling, via an agent. Any recommendations ...
Just to bang on the old drum yet again: there are NO "estate agents" in Bulgaria, they're all property brokers at best (and crooks at worst). There's no regulation and essentially no comeback if you're misled or simply lied to, especially since ... Read More
Lintels - Where can We buy them? by jeanmandredeix
We are having trouble sourcing lintels and also acrows. We are in the north east. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Acriws are rather uncommon here, but you can find them with s nit of ferreting - concrete lintels are sold in all decent building supplies shops. Read More
Developers charging fees decades after purchase by UKescapee
Hello, we are in the process of moving to Cyprus, planning to be there from April (2027) and to rent a property for the first year and then buy. We recently stayed for a week in a villa in Kamares and like Tala and the immediate surrounding areas ...
Read some of @Toon's posts about the property scene in Cyprus and then ask yourself if somewhere like Somalia might be a safer bet... 😎I'm pretty sure that there are many clubs for "Trapped Purchasers" to swap horror stories and drown their ... Read More
Hello everyone (kalo Chorio) by Flyingcrow
We are looking a house there that needs work. I am writing to ask if anyone knows this village, or potentially has a property there?Google Earth is not great for detail, so my question is.... Did recent quakes have an effect on this village in ...
It might help if you were to specify exactly which village of that name you're referring to - I believe that there are at least 13 settlements with the same, or very similar, name in Greece... Read More
Hello everyone (kalo Chorio) by Flyingcrow
We are looking a house there that needs work. I am writing to ask if anyone knows this village, or potentially has a property there?Google Earth is not great for detail, so my question is.... Did recent quakes have an effect on this village in ...
@ElJay315 Then it's probably withstood several earthquakes already without falling down or sustaining major damage... 😎 Read More
builders in bulgaria by twinklecaz
We have bought a property in Dobrina and have been using a Bulgarian lad to do the work on our house when we are not there. Unfortunately the standards of his work recently have been a bit lacking maybe due to his present personal problems. Is there ...
It's the same everywhere! I've lived in various countries around the world, latterly in England for decades. I had renovations/improvements carried out in the properties I owned, and quickly realised that the most important single item to install ... Read More
Translation service by mastersonsuzi20254
I also need to find a service that will make phone calls to change the details on utilities accounts. Aka I haven't changed our water and electric or tax yet. I paid a loca service and it's yet to be done! The previous owner is understandably ...
If you're in the country just download one of the Instant Translation apps onto your phone and DIY it...or you can get one of the AI apps to translate a letter you write explaining what you want to hand to the person at the utility company or ... Read More
Up the hairy mountain.. by JimJ
A bit of excitement in the local news this evening - a tourist was killed by a bear just above us on the mountain... 😥
Oops - that should read "quite a few of my (not too close, thank goodness!) neighbours having rather large and rather vicious dogs.." Read More
International driver's license alongside my Florida license by PepitoFiesta
Hello Bulgaria! I am a US citizen living in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian residency card. I have a Florida driver's license but I do not want to exchange it for a Bulgarian license. I read somewhere that I can get an international driver's license ...
Yeah, my bad - I was mixing up the '49 Geneva and the '68 Vienna Conventions... 😳I must have left my brains in the freezer, along with my glasses! Read More
International driver's license alongside my Florida license by PepitoFiesta
Hello Bulgaria! I am a US citizen living in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian residency card. I have a Florida driver's license but I do not want to exchange it for a Bulgarian license. I read somewhere that I can get an international driver's license ...
@JimJ Can you direct me to a link that confirms your statement about the trade of license from Valid US drivers license to BG one? Sounds to good to be true 😅 - @Chris G-F https://mvr.bg/opp/en/administrative-se … garian-one - ... Read More
Congratulations Bulgaria by SimCityAT
Eurovision 2026: Bulgaria beats Israel to win song contest - as UK comes last with one point Bulgaria beats Israel to win song contest - as UK comes last with one point
@Zooldrool I definitely missed a bet there! 😂 Read More
Congratulations Bulgaria by SimCityAT
Eurovision 2026: Bulgaria beats Israel to win song contest - as UK comes last with one point Bulgaria beats Israel to win song contest - as UK comes last with one point
A superb win...they had 60-1 odds on betfair on Thursday evening. Dara was amazing. - @Zooldrool Darn, I must have tuned into the wrong TV channel...or were there two Daras performing? The Boss was delighted that her country finally won Eurovision ... Read More
Up the hairy mountain.. by JimJ
A bit of excitement in the local news this evening - a tourist was killed by a bear just above us on the mountain... 😥
@JimJ So you are saying it was a "bear".....how convenient for you. - @Zooldrool ?That's what all the media outlets were saying yesterday - my suspicion has something to do with quite a few of my (not too close, thank goodness!) having rather ... Read More
Up the hairy mountain.. by JimJ
A bit of excitement in the local news this evening - a tourist was killed by a bear just above us on the mountain... 😥
@SimCityAT https://tinyurl.com/yv8h4x95 Read More
Up the hairy mountain..
A bit of excitement in the local news this evening - a tourist was killed by a bear just above us on the mountain... 😥 Read More
Where should I buy for boating? by Zooldrool
I want to buy a house by a river or lake for boating. Any recommendations?. What about the danube, are there houses that have yards right on the river bank?. Anyone here have a boat?.
You'll easily find a cheapish house on the Danube - and when the regular floods arise you'll find out why it was a "bargain"... 😂You'd also be wise to talk to insurance companies about any prospective purchases! Read More
Suggestions for a short break? by jeanmandredeix
Has anyone got a suggestion for an area for a short break on the coast? Somewhere that is quiet and polar opposite to Sunny Beach? Would like to do a short break with the dog before summer arrives. Thanks.
@Zooldrool Amusingly enough, the southern suburbs of Sofia are very popular with Greek expats.. 😎 Read More
Suggestions for a short break? by jeanmandredeix
Has anyone got a suggestion for an area for a short break on the coast? Somewhere that is quiet and polar opposite to Sunny Beach? Would like to do a short break with the dog before summer arrives. Thanks.
@Zooldrool I'm not sure which part made me smile more - the idea that I have any friends, or that if I have then they'd be "elite"...😂I guess that you haven't been to Halkidiki/Kavala/Thassos etc - in the summer they're packed with decidedly ... Read More
International driver's license alongside my Florida license by PepitoFiesta
Hello Bulgaria! I am a US citizen living in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian residency card. I have a Florida driver's license but I do not want to exchange it for a Bulgarian license. I read somewhere that I can get an international driver's license ...
Bear in mind that taking the test in Bulgaria isn't entirely straightforward. For a US citizen you'll be required to produce your US High School or University diploma, apostilled in the US; it'll then need to be translated and legalised in ... Read More
Suggestions for a short break? by jeanmandredeix
Has anyone got a suggestion for an area for a short break on the coast? Somewhere that is quiet and polar opposite to Sunny Beach? Would like to do a short break with the dog before summer arrives. Thanks.
Most Bulgarians who enjoy beach holidays go to Greece - maybe they know something? 😎 Read More
International driver's license alongside my Florida license by PepitoFiesta
Hello Bulgaria! I am a US citizen living in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian residency card. I have a Florida driver's license but I do not want to exchange it for a Bulgarian license. I read somewhere that I can get an international driver's license ...
@PepitoFiestaWell, you won't get to live here without a US passport, so you can show that to ICE in lieu of a driver's licence for identification. I'd say that's better proof that you're a US citizen than a DL any day... 😎Strictly speaking, ... Read More
Suggestions for a short break? by jeanmandredeix
Has anyone got a suggestion for an area for a short break on the coast? Somewhere that is quiet and polar opposite to Sunny Beach? Would like to do a short break with the dog before summer arrives. Thanks.
@jeanmandredeix Halkidiki? 😎 Read More
International driver's license alongside my Florida license by PepitoFiesta
Hello Bulgaria! I am a US citizen living in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian residency card. I have a Florida driver's license but I do not want to exchange it for a Bulgarian license. I read somewhere that I can get an international driver's license ...
@PepitoFiesta What makes you say that? As a US citizen who is a resident of Bulgaria, your Bulgarian driving licence, plus IDP, permits you to drive in the US for up to a year per visit. Your citizenship is immaterial to the validity of your ... Read More
International driver's license alongside my Florida license by PepitoFiesta
Hello Bulgaria! I am a US citizen living in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian residency card. I have a Florida driver's license but I do not want to exchange it for a Bulgarian license. I read somewhere that I can get an international driver's license ...
First of all, there's no such thing as an "international driving licence"; you're talking about the "IDP" (International Driving Permit") - and even that "the" doesn't tell the whole story as there are three IDPs, because there are three ... Read More
Solar installation question by frazer2022
I am looking to install a solar system to help reduce the electricity bills. I will probably only install 2 or 3 kw in total and not include any batteries.This should provide most of my power for the summer months and just help reduce the bills ...
@porridgeandprunes If you think that Bulgaria loves bureaucracy, I guess you've never lived in Greece! 😂 Read More
Solar installation question by frazer2022
I am looking to install a solar system to help reduce the electricity bills. I will probably only install 2 or 3 kw in total and not include any batteries.This should provide most of my power for the summer months and just help reduce the bills ...
Requirements have been eased quite a bit in the past few years but you'll still have to jump through a bunch of hoops unless your property is completely off-grid. The municipality (ie adminstrative centre, not the village mayor) will need to be ... Read More
Banking with Wise - update by cyberescue1
For those who use Wise and have a Bulgarian UBB Account, transferring money between Wise and UBB just got a whole load better.The last time I transferred money, it took a couple of days. However, I transferred money today and it arrived within 30 ...
That's why I didn't say it was good for more than one thing! 😜 I think my crypto holdings will be safe -- as they total £0. - @janemulberry Everyone's crypto holdings will be "safe" - the government will keep a watchful eye on ... Read More
Banking with Wise - update by cyberescue1
For those who use Wise and have a Bulgarian UBB Account, transferring money between Wise and UBB just got a whole load better.The last time I transferred money, it took a couple of days. However, I transferred money today and it arrived within 30 ...
It sounds as if the change to the Euro have been good for something! - @janemulberry Don't be too sure about that!As of this January 1st year, a couple of very intrusive regulatory instruments are in force, specifically DAC 8 and CRS 2.0 (and CARF, ... Read More
Off topic - whats on your mind? by SimCityAT
As with a lot of Forums, there are dedicated posts in which members can talk about anything. They generally are for just chit-chat and as the Bulgaria Forum has a high volume of participants it's about time it had its own. You still have to abide by ...
@fluffy2560 If I were to stick my oar in there then I'd be the troll: I know sweet FA about the realities of life and politics in Hungary or how much of a "reformer" Magyar really is... 🙂 Read More
Off topic - whats on your mind? by SimCityAT
As with a lot of Forums, there are dedicated posts in which members can talk about anything. They generally are for just chit-chat and as the Bulgaria Forum has a high volume of participants it's about time it had its own. You still have to abide by ...
@fluffy2560 I'm not sure what to say: sometimes one man's attempt to start up a discussion about a topic is viewed by another as "trolling"; just as "Hate" on the internet often seems to mean "expressing a view that doesn't happen to suit me". ... Read More
Off topic - whats on your mind? by SimCityAT
As with a lot of Forums, there are dedicated posts in which members can talk about anything. They generally are for just chit-chat and as the Bulgaria Forum has a high volume of participants it's about time it had its own. You still have to abide by ...
Some posters offer trolling opinions on political situations in HU, BG, PL and EU and elsewhere and they have no knowledge of the day to day political situation on the ground. They know who they are. Best not to engage. - @fluffy2560 Why not engage? ... Read More
Off topic - whats on your mind? by SimCityAT
As with a lot of Forums, there are dedicated posts in which members can talk about anything. They generally are for just chit-chat and as the Bulgaria Forum has a high volume of participants it's about time it had its own. You still have to abide by ...
Excellent! Democracy in action - @Fred Only if you're a lemming.....or Uncle Vlad! 👎 - @JimJ Many people confuse democracy with what they believe should be democracy - that being their preferred candidate winning. They complained about how ... Read More
Off topic - whats on your mind? by SimCityAT
As with a lot of Forums, there are dedicated posts in which members can talk about anything. They generally are for just chit-chat and as the Bulgaria Forum has a high volume of participants it's about time it had its own. You still have to abide by ...
Excellent! Democracy in action - @Fred Only if you're a lemming.....or Uncle Vlad! 👎 Read More
Off topic - whats on your mind? by SimCityAT
As with a lot of Forums, there are dedicated posts in which members can talk about anything. They generally are for just chit-chat and as the Bulgaria Forum has a high volume of participants it's about time it had its own. You still have to abide by ...
@JimJ This being the Balkans, the region where World Wars literally ignite over not very much at all, it's rather hard to see what could possibly be "off-topic" when it comes to talking about Bulgarian politics. Still, what do I know? 😎 Read More
It's Election Day - Yet Again!
But apparently the Admins don't want us to talk about it? 😷 Read More