09 November

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Contractor liability for unlawful construction

When building a house, a swimming pool or carrying out other construction works, investors rely on the expertise of designers and contractors, expecting all works to be performed lawfully and in accordance with professional standards. Problems arise, however, when it is discovered after completion that the structure does not comply with the spatial plan, the building permit or other regulations. The owner may then face substantial costs of rectification, an obligation to remove unlawfully executed works, or a reduction in the value of the property. In such situations, contractors frequently argue that they carried out the works in accordance with the...

29 September

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Disturbance of possession: short deadlines for enforcement and repeated interference

Posted by Savin Vaić

in Construction law, Enforcement law, Property law, Real estate law

In disputes concerning disturbance of possession, it is not enough merely to initiate proceedings in time and obtain a favourable court decision. The deadlines must also be observed after the decision becomes final and binding. If the opposing party does not voluntarily comply with an order requiring restoration of the previous state of possession, enforcement proceedings must be initiated. The Civil Procedure Act prescribes a very short deadline for doing so. Under Article 444 of the Civil Procedure Act (ZPP), the right to seek enforcement of an order requiring the performance of a specific act is lost if enforcement is...

17 September

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Liability for Defects in Waterproofing of Buildings – Practice in Croatia

Posted by Savin Vaić

in Construction law

Defects in waterproofing are among the most common problems encountered in newly constructed and renovated buildings. Water penetration through terraces, balconies and flat roofs, dampness in basements and walls, as well as the occurrence of mould and fungi, are not merely technical issues. Depending on their cause and consequences, they may give rise to several different liability regimes under the Croatian Civil Obligations Act (hereinafter: the “ZOO”). First and foremost, a distinction must be made between the liability of the seller of real property for material defects and the liability of the contractor, designer and supervising engineer for defects in the...

16 March

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Energy and real estate: three typical risk situations

Posted by Admin

in Construction law, Real estate law

As of 1. 1. 2026., the new Energy Efficiency Act applies, noting that certain provisions will enter into force on 1. 1. 2027. (Art. 43(6)–(8)). Although this is primarily a statute setting public policies, measures and instruments, its practical impact is clear: energy efficiency is increasingly finding its way into your decisions and contracts, whether you are selling, leasing, renovating or financing a property. Energy costs and the predictability of consumption have already become part of value and risk assessments, and documentation that previously passed on trust is now increasingly subject to formal checks. In practice, the risks most often...

07 March

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Real estate investments after 1 January 2026: key changes under the new ZPU

Posted by Admin

in Construction law, News, Real estate law

As of 1 January 2026, the new Spatial Planning Act applies, and the previous act has been repealed. Although at first glance it may seem like a technical statute for planners and public administration, the changes are very concrete for investors and landowners: faster and more digital procedures, clearer deadlines, a stricter regime on the coast and in tourism, and mechanisms that can unblock projects that have been stuck for years due to infrastructure. One of the biggest changes is a full shift towards digital planning. Spatial plans are prepared and adopted in the information system through ePlanove, and the decision...

22 February

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New Building Act and Faster Permits

Posted by Admin

in Construction law, News, Property law, Real estate law

As of 1 January 2026, the new Building Act is in force. In official announcements it has been emphasised that obtaining building permits should be significantly faster, with communication and monitoring of procedures through digital systems (eDozvola). In practice, for years the most time was lost not on design, but on waiting for various statements: special conditions and connection conditions (electricity, water and sewerage, transport, municipal infrastructure, etc.). The new Act is drafted so that this part of the procedure becomes predictable: it introduces deadlines, accountability and, most importantly, clear consequences when deadlines expire. The central novelty is in Article 48 of...

04 July

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Liability for material defects

Posted by Admin

in Construction law, Contract law

According to the Croatian Obligations Act, a defect exists if the purchased item does not conform to the agreed description, type, quantity or quality, lacks the expected functionality, compatibility or other features, or is not suitable for the particular purpose the buyer informed the seller about. A defect is also deemed to exist if the item was not delivered with the agreed accessories, instructions or updates. Likewise, a defect exists if the item is not fit for ordinary use, does not match a sample or model shown by the seller, or lacks qualities the buyer could reasonably expect. The seller is not...

06 February

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Real Estate Valuation

Posted by Admin

in Construction law, Property law, Real estate law

The valuation of real estate in the Republic of Croatia is regulated by the Real Estate Valuation Act, which was enacted on July 3, 2015, and has been in force since July 25, 2015. The valuation of real estate must be conducted with the diligence of a competent expert, taking into account all available evidence to ensure that the result is sustainable upon verification. Real estate valuation is used in property transactions, determining the value of collateral objects, property insurance, dissolution of co-ownership communities, investment and property value enhancement matters, encumbrance and depreciation issues, land development procedures, urban land consolidation, expropriation, and...

10 November

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Liability for construction contract defects

Posted by admin

in Construction law, Contract law, News

Building contract is actually a service contract whereby a contactor agrees to deliver building work according to the specific project within a certain deadline and a client agrees to pay a certain price in exchange. Each contract needs to include both subject and price. The subject of a building contract is a construction of certain building on the certain land or performance of other building works. Hereby houses, buildings, bridges, water- gates, tunnels, roads, sewage systems etc. are considered buildings. Common trade works where e.g., no change in the apartment structure was carried out, geological-exploration drilling or some isolation works etc....

Contractor liability for unlawful construction

Disturbance of possession: short deadlines for enforcement and repeated interference

Liability for Defects in Waterproofing of Buildings – Practice in Croatia

Energy and real estate: three typical risk situations

Real estate investments after 1 January 2026: key changes under the new ZPU

New Building Act and Faster Permits

Liability for material defects

Real Estate Valuation

Liability for construction contract defects

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