Dozens of apartment owners in a residential complex near Tsarevo, on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, say they have been left without stable water access and face restricted entry to their properties amid a long-running dispute with the land and infrastructure owner, BNT reports.
The complex, built just meters from the sea, initially attracted buyers with its infrastructure and quiet location. However, owners later discovered that individual water billing was not possible because the internal water supply system, constructed by the developer, had not been officially transferred to the public utility operator.
Residents say the situation escalated after disagreements over usage terms and pricing. One owner, Yanka Petkova, described sharply increased costs and pressure to accept unfavorable conditions. “He started cutting off our water and setting us impossible conditions for use. We were paying 500% higher prices for water and then he handed us a contract that turned out to be absolutely unprofitable for us,” she said, adding that residents refused to sign.
Other owners claim the landholder, identified as Dmitry Bocharov, subsequently cut water and sewer access and used pressure tactics involving property access and pricing. Petko Petkov said residents were even offered to sell their apartments at very low prices under pressure. “This is how he is currently blackmailing us – he offered to buy our apartments for 10,000 euros each because they had no water,” he said.
