🎯 Why this matters now
Housing language in Bulgaria is not just about flats. It connects to real decisions about neighbourhoods, transport, old-panel blocks versus new developments, village houses versus city apartments, and what “furnished” or “included bills” actually mean in practice.
For many learners this is one of the first truly adult language domains: speaking to an estate agent, reading an advert, asking about deposits, checking whether pets are allowed, and dealing with repairs without sounding helpless.
📈 Current market context
Official Bulgarian statistics show a strong housing market rather than a cheap easy-buy environment. NSI reported that housing prices in the first quarter of 2025 were up 15.1% year on year, while newly built dwellings remained concentrated in and around Sofia, Plovdiv, and other larger urban areas.
That matters for learners because “buying a house in Bulgaria” can mean very different realities: a city flat in Sofia, a newer complex in Plovdiv or Varna, or an older village house that may look affordable but needs serious renovation work.
Section 1
Types of housing
The homes Bulgarians live in.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| апартамент | apartament | flat / apartment | Most common urban dwelling |
| къща | kashta | house | Standalone house |
| вила | vila | villa / country house | Often used as a weekend/summer home |
| студио | studio | studio flat | One room + bathroom |
| едностаен апартамент | ednostaen apartament | one-room flat (studio) | Bedsit equivalent |
| двустаен апартамент | dvustaen apartament | two-room flat | One bedroom + living room |
| тристаен апартамент | tristaen apartament | three-room flat | Two bedrooms + living room |
| мансарда | mansarda | attic flat / loft conversion | |
| сутерен | suteren | basement flat | |
| блок | blok | block of flats | The typical socialist-era apartment block |
| жилищен комплекс | zhilishten kompleks | residential complex / gated development | New builds |
| общежитие | obshtezhitie | dormitory / hostel accommodation | Student halls |
💡 Bulgarian flat-counting — стаи vs спални
In Bulgaria flats are counted by total number of rooms (стаи) including the living room, NOT by number of bedrooms as in the UK. A двустаен апартамент (two-room flat) has one bedroom and one living room — what British people would call a one-bedroom flat. A тристаен = two bedrooms + living room. This catches many British and American renters off guard.
🏡 Bulgaria-specific housing reality
Many Bulgarian cities still have large areas of older панелни блокове from the socialist period, while newer жилищни комплекси market security, parking, lifts, and better insulation. Learners moving to Bulgaria often need both vocabularies, because the price difference can be significant.
Section 2
Renting vocabulary
Everything you need to rent a property.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| наем / под наем | naem / pod naem | rent / for rent |
| наемател | naematel | tenant |
| наемодател / хазяин | naemodatel / hazyain | landlord |
| договор за наем | dogovor za naem | rental contract / tenancy agreement |
| депозит | depozit | deposit |
| месечен наем | mesechen naem | monthly rent |
| комунални услуги | komunalni uslugi | utilities |
| ток | tok | electricity |
| вода | voda | water |
| парно | parno | central heating |
| газ | gaz | gas |
| интернет | internet | internet |
| включени ли са сметките? | vklyucheni li sa smetkite? | are bills included? |
| обзаведен / необзаведен | obzaveden / neobzaveden | furnished / unfurnished |
| подновяване на договора | podnovyavane na dogovora | renewal of the contract |
| предизвестие | predizvestie | notice period |
| изнасям се | iznasyam se | to move out |
| нанасям се | nanasyam se | to move in |
Section 3
Buying a home in Bulgaria
The key words you need if you want to buy, not just rent.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| купувам имот | kupuvam imot | buy property |
| продавам имот | prodavam imot | sell property |
| имотен агент | imoten agent | estate agent |
| нотариален акт | notarialen akt | title deed / notarial deed |
| собственик | sobstvenik | owner |
| капаро | kaparo | reservation deposit / earnest money |
| ипотека | ipoteka | mortgage |
| оглед | ogled | viewing |
| къща за ремонт | kashta za remont | house needing renovation |
| ново строителство | novo stroitelstvo | new build |
| старо строителство | staro stroitelstvo | older construction |
| село | selo | village |
🏭 Buying reality in Bulgaria
City buyers often compare ново строителство with older flats in better locations. Outside the big cities, many foreign buyers are attracted by a къща на село, but these properties often need major work on the roof, electrics, plumbing, insulation, and windows. Cheap purchase price does not mean cheap total cost.
Section 4
Buying process and legal vocabulary
The words you need for the real process, not just the viewing.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| кадастър | kadastar | cadastre |
| кадастрална схема | kadastralna shema | cadastral sketch / scheme |
| имотен регистър | imoten registar | property register |
| данъчна оценка | danachna otsenka | tax valuation |
| местен данък | mesten danak | local acquisition tax |
| нотариална такса | notarialna taksa | notary fee |
| такса вписване | taksa vpisvane | registration fee |
| проверка на тежести | proverka na tezhesti | check for encumbrances / liens |
| пълномощно | palnomoshtno | power of attorney |
| сделката се изповядва пред нотариус | sdelkata se izpovyadva pred notarius | the deal is completed before a notary |
📝 Practical process note
In Bulgaria, the purchase is completed before a notary, and buyers usually hear about the кадастър, имотен регистър, данъчна оценка, and different local fees. The local acquisition tax is set by each municipality within a legal range, so the exact amount depends on where the property is located.
Section 5
Describing a property
How to describe and ask about a home.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| Апартаментът е на третия етаж. | Apartamentat e na tretiya etazh. | The flat is on the third floor. |
| Има централно парно. | Ima tsentralno parno. | There is central heating. |
| Има ли асансьор? | Ima li asansyor? | Is there a lift? |
| Колко квадратни метра е? | Kolko kvadratni metra e? | How many square metres is it? |
| Изложен е на юг. | Izlozhen e na yug. | It faces south. |
| Има включено паркомясто. | Ima vklyucheno parkomyasto. | Parking space is included. |
| Позволени ли са домашни любимци? | Pozvoleni li sa domashni lyubimtsi? | Are pets allowed? |
| Кога е свободен апартаментът? | Koga e svoboden apartamentat? | When is the flat available? |
| Каква е сигурността в блока? | Kakva e sigurnostta v bloka? | What is the security like in the building? |
| Тихо ли е в квартала? | Tiho li e v kvartala? | Is the neighbourhood quiet? |
Section 6
Renovation and building work
The language of repairing, updating, and rebuilding.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ремонт | remont | renovation / repair |
| основен ремонт | osnoven remont | major renovation |
| покрив | pokriv | roof |
| електроинсталация | elektroinstalatsiya | electrical system |
| ВиК инсталация | ViK instalatsiya | plumbing system |
| изолация | izolatsiya | insulation |
| дограма | dograma | windows and frames |
| баня за ремонт | banya za remont | bathroom needing renovation |
| майстор | maystor | tradesman / repairman |
| оферта за ремонт | oferta za remont | renovation quote |
💰 Why renovation language matters
Older houses in Bulgaria can be beautiful and inexpensive to buy, but many need serious work. Roof repairs, damp, new wiring, septic systems, heating upgrades, and window replacement are all common issues. Learners interested in buying need this vocabulary, not just viewing phrases.
Section 7
DIY and practical home tasks
Useful verbs and objects for doing small jobs yourself.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| бормашина | bormashina | drill |
| чук | chuk | hammer |
| отвертка | otvertka | screwdriver |
| винт | vint | screw |
| боя | boya | paint |
| боядисвам | boyadisvam | paint / decorate |
| сменям | smenyam | change / replace |
| монтирам | montiram | install / fit |
| поправям | popravyam | repair / fix |
| сглобявам мебели | sglobyavam mebeli | assemble furniture |
Section 8
Problems and complaints
What to say when things go wrong.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| Има теч. | Ima tech. | There is a leak. |
| Отоплението не работи. | Otoplenieto ne raboti. | The heating is not working. |
| Прозорецът е счупен. | Prozoretsat e schupen. | The window is broken. |
| Има проблем с ВиК. | Ima problem s ViK. | There is a plumbing problem. |
| Ключалката не работи. | Klyuchalkata ne raboti. | The lock is not working. |
| Трябва да се ремонтира. | Tryabva da se remontira. | It needs to be repaired. |
| Кой отговаря за ремонта? | Koy otgovarya za remonta? | Who is responsible for the repair? |
| Ще задържите ли депозита? | Shte zadarzhite li depozita? | Will you keep the deposit? |
Section 9
Dialogue — flat hunting in Sofia
A realistic property search conversation.
— Добър ден. Търся двустаен апартамент под наем в центъра.
— Имаме няколко варианта. Какъв е бюджетът Ви?
— До около четиристотин евро на месец.
— Добре. Имаме тристаен на улица "Раковски" за триста и осемдесет евро — обзаведен, с централно парно.
— Включени ли са сметките?
— Не, сметките са отделно. Комуналните обикновено излизат около седемдесет и пет евро месечно.
— Има ли асансьор? Аз съм на пети.
— Да, блокът е с асансьор. Апартаментът е шестдесет и пет квадрата, изложен на юг.
— Позволени ли са домашни любимци? Имам котка.
— Трябва да питам хазяина. Обикновено позволяват при депозит.
— Разбирам. Кога мога да го разгледам?
— Утре в единадесет — ако желаете.
— Dobar den. Tarsya dvustaen apartament pod naem v tsentara.
— Imame nyakolko varianta. Kakav e byudzhetat Vi?
— Do okolo chetiristotin evro na mesets.
— Dobre. Imame tristaen na ulitsa Rakovski za trista i osemdeset evro — obzaveden, s tsentralno parno.
— Vklyucheni li sa smetkite?
— Ne, smetkite sa otdelno. Komunalnite obiknoveno izlizat okolo sedemdeset i pet evro mesechno.
— Ima li asansyor? Az sam na peti etazh.
— Da, blokat e s asansyor. Apartamentat e shestdeset i pet kvadrata, izlozhen na yug.
— Pozvoleni li sa domashni lyubimtsi? Imam kotka.
— Tryabva da pitam hazyaina. Obiknoveno pozvolyavat pri depozit.
— Razbiram. Koga moga da go razgledam?
— Utre v edinadeset — ako zhelaete.
— Good afternoon. I am looking for a two-room flat to rent in the centre.
— We have several options. What is your budget?
— Up to around four hundred euros per month.
— Good. We have a three-room flat on Rakovski Street for three hundred and eighty euros — furnished, with central heating.
— Are the bills included?
— No, the bills are separate. Utilities usually come to about seventy-five euros per month.
— Is there a lift? I am on the fifth floor.
— Yes, the building has a lift. The flat is sixty-five square metres, facing south.
— Are pets allowed? I have a cat.
— I need to ask the landlord. Usually they allow it with a deposit.
— I understand. When can I view it?
— Tomorrow at eleven — if you wish.
Section 10
Writing task
✏️ Writing task — Day 47
- Write a message to a landlord asking about a flat: mention what you need (size, floor, furnished/unfurnished), ask about bills, pets and when it is available.
- What is the difference between a "двустаен" and a "тристаен" апартамент in Bulgarian terms?
- Translate: "The heating is not working. I need a repairman. Who is responsible for the repair — me or the landlord?"
- List five utilities in Bulgarian and give the word for each.
Show answers
1. Free answer — use Търся · Включени ли са · Позволени ли са домашни любимци · Кога е свободен.
2. Двустаен = 1 bedroom + living room (UK: one-bed). Тристаен = 2 bedrooms + living room (UK: two-bed). Bulgarians count all rooms including the living room.
3. Отоплението не работи. Нужен ми е майстор. Кой отговаря за ремонта — аз или хазяинът?
4. ток (electricity) · вода (water) · парно (heating) · газ (gas) · интернет (internet)
Day 47 Quiz
8 questions · score 6+ to mark day complete
Question 1 of 8
A "двустаен апартамент" in Bulgarian means:
Question 2 of 8
"Landlord" in Bulgarian:
Question 3 of 8
"Are bills included?" in Bulgarian:
Question 4 of 8
"Furnished" in Bulgarian:
Question 5 of 8
"There is a leak" in Bulgarian:
Question 6 of 8
"How many square metres is it?" in Bulgarian:
Question 7 of 8
"To move in" in Bulgarian:
Question 8 of 8
"Notice period" in Bulgarian:
Day 47 Recap
Review before Day 48. Every point builds on the last.
| Topic | Key point | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Flat types | едностаен · двустаен · тристаен — counted by ALL rooms including living room | двустаен = UK one-bed |
| Key vocab | наем · наемател · хазяин · договор · депозит · комунални услуги | |
| Bills | ток · вода · парно · газ · интернет — Включени ли са сметките? | Always ask this! |
| Describing | На третия етаж · изложен на юг · обзаведен · квадратни метра · с асансьор | |
| Problems | Има теч · Отоплението не работи · Прозорецът е счупен · Трябва да се ремонтира | |
| Pets | Позволени ли са домашни любимци? — always ask before signing | |
| 🌎 Culture | imot.bg is Bulgaria's main property site; typical Sofia rent for a 1-bed is €250–400; входна такса (building fee) is separate from rent | Адресна регистрация within 48h is mandatory |