From how the world lights up, absurdities in people's lives are a daily occurrence. The more civilized a society becomes, the more non-bivalical things happen. And it is assumed that with time we become more cultured, more human, wiser.
Absurdities in Bulgaria are well known. Between people, between institutions... We live in a civilized world, or so it is supposed to. A world where unclear clauses in a contract should be resolved in court, not through threats and blackouts in the middle of winter.
Geppi Gagliardi and Donatella Varnier are a retired Italian family who decided to live in Bulgaria. They choose Varna as their home. On February 10, 2022, they conclude a lease for 3 years. The term is explicitly stated. The contract is drawn up in Bulgarian and Italian. There is no lease change clause. The relations regarding termination of the contract are described in Part III "Termination of the contract", art. 11 b, where there is a discrepancy between the Bulgarian and Italian texts. The Italian text, translated into Bulgarian, reads as follows: "This contract may be terminated before the expiration of the contract term by written consent of the parties". This in itself is a contradiction.
In the Bulgarian text, the word "consent" is missing, the phrase "written notice" is used. The tenants signed the contract based on this meaning. In this line of thought, they disagree with the notice, which is anyway invalid in the form in which it is presented. The translation is wrong, for which neither the tenants nor the landlord are to blame.
At the beginning of August 2023, the landlord, Yordan Ivanov, decided to raise the rent from BGN 650 to BGN 1,200 due to inflation. A rent increase given an already concluded contract is done with an additional written agreement, something he did not comply with. Tenants refuse.
Jeppi and Donatella, as well as many other Italian citizens and companies, use the services of the company "DSA SYSTEM" EOOD with manager Dino Santarelli. The company de facto plays the role of a consulate and advises and assists the Italians who reside in the country, mainly in Varna. It helps them with accommodation, providing a translator, accounting and legal advice, etc. The lease is brokered by Mr. Santarelli. After receiving the rent increase notice, Mr. Santarelli contacted the landlord, Jordan, and together with the tenants held a meeting at the company's office on 08/19/2023 at 7:00 p.m. There, with misunderstandings, it becomes clear that the landlord has other candidates who are ready to pay the requested amount. B.H., a friend and relative of Dino Santarelli, translates to their meeting. The tenants refuse and offer to settle the dispute in court, for which Jordan should file a complaint, since he has claims. The landlord refuses and they eventually come to an agreement that the tenants stay at the same price. They shake hands and part.
But on 27.08.2023, the tenants receive a message from Yordan Ivanov, again via WhatsApp, informing them that he is giving them a month's notice to leave the apartment they rented from him, described in the contract. This method of notification does not meet the legal requirements in any way. According to Bulgarian legislation, the notice must be in writing, on paper, sent by post or by courier. The method of communication regarding the request for a rent increase and notice to leave the apartment has no legal value.
Jeppy and Donatella consult a lawyer and a sworn translator, the lawyer states categorically that, given everything presented up to this point, they have the right to stay. The contract has a term, there is a discrepancy in the translation (it is not known who prepared the form). After consultation with a lawyer, on 30/08/2023 the landlord was sent an official letter with return receipt, on company letterhead with signature and stamp, informing him of the above and advising him to first give formal notice and apply to the court.
To date, the Italian tenants have not received an official letter of resignation. However, mental harassment by the landlord begins. Constant ringing on the phone, messages... filed a complaint with the police, went with the police once, but from there they said that it is not their competence to evict people since there is no court order. Some time passes and on 07/12/2023, Jordan sends a masked person to BH's workplace, who threatens her, saying that she forged the contract and if she doesn't make the Italians go away, there will be trouble and bad consequences for all. The person said he was just getting out of prison and was close to Jordan and the family. Dino Santarelli informed the police about this, but no official complaint has been made at this time. After a few days, on 11/12/2023 at 2 p.m., the landlord decided to turn off the electricity. The next day they report the frog to the police. Currently, two human beings in the 21st century in the center of the European city of Varna in the middle of winter live in the cold and cannot cook. Despite all of the above, to this day the tenants continue to pay their rent and water and electricity bills regularly and the landlord has had no objections to them regarding the way they use and maintain his apartment.
Today, 14.12.2023, at Dino's insistence, I tried, in my capacity as his assistant and translator, to arrange a meeting with the mayor of Varna, Mr. Kotsev. The office was extremely kind and sympathetic, but they informed me that, from a legal point of view, it is not within the competence of the mayor to solve this type of problem. Which is exactly the case.
Now let's try to step into the "shoes" of the landlord Yordan Ivanov. Abstracting from the abnormal actions he took, this person de facto refers to the Bulgarian part of the rental agreement and to some extent he is within his right to have claims. At the end of the day, everyone is looking out for their own interests. I will not comment on the person who prepared the incorrect translation (I don't know who he is). It turns out that both sides are right, each for himself. And the only institution that can solve the problem is the court. However, things happen very slowly there... and are very expensive.
The Italian family is currently in financial difficulties and for this reason they have not yet filed a civil suit. They were also inclined to move out in order not to endure the mental harassment, but they can't afford that either, because apartments in Varna have long been approaching the price of BGN 1,000 per month. Why does the landlord not file a complaint in court, given that he is the person with the claims!? Well, probably because he did not declare the contract in the National Revenue Agency and is afraid of inspections and fines. I have no other explanation.
However, I draw several conclusions from this whole story. First of all, we expose ourselves to foreigners, and they, believe me, especially pensioners, are a boon to our economy (they spend their money here, which they receive from outside). But that's the least of the problems. The main sad conclusion is that money has long taken over people's souls. And for the sake of the material, we are ready to behave like demonic monsters, leaving two adults in the cold without electricity. The second conclusion is that we have countless institutions whose powers are unknown. At present, no one but the courts can evict the tenants, nor make the landlord stop harassing them and make him abide by his contract, nor can anyone make him turn on the electricity. And as I already said, the court is not the best option, because there things happen very slowly.
At present two human beings are literally in distress in a foreign country, and another man cannot come into possession of his own property, and because of the nature of his character, begins to use unlawful and outrageous measures to get his way.
Answer!? Say one of the parties finally sues? How long will it last? And during this time, who will decide whether they can oblige Jordan to turn on the electricity until the end... or people have to stay in the dark and cold... or in the middle of winter, without finances, look for accommodation that is many times more expensive...?
I remind you again that the landlord's desire to leave the apartment is not due to force majeure (for example, a relative became homeless and he decided to shelter him or... he urgently needs money and decided to sell it...), but the tenants pay their rent properly monthly.