ianl
Full Member
Posts: 80
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Post by ianl on Jun 1, 2006 7:49:11 GMT 1
I hear that there has been a sudden clampdown on rentals, that guests who have turned up at the police or tourist office to register in the last few days have been unable to do so unless
they are staying at a house with a legal rental licence
or if claiming to be 'family or close friend' that the person who owns the house goes with the guest and armed with legal documents that shows that they own the property and register them in person. (An alternative is an officially translated and notorized document stating that the person is family. and presumably that will wear thin after 2-3 times with 'family" staying.)
Anyone else experienced this or know if this is just a draconian flexing of the muscles?
I understand that Croatia has reckoned up how much money it thinks it is losing by grey renting but this sounds like a huge reaction.
So you say, ok, don't register but then talk of prosecuting owners and agents abounds and of deporting the guests.
Any thoughts?
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Post by lojalnost on Jun 1, 2006 7:56:02 GMT 1
I know of Croatians who thought that they were well connected (actually who are very well connected!) who've been stung this year, so the time is now up. Some of them have had more than one rental apartment/house etc so I think this is why the authorities are stepping up there "surprise" visits. Whether its really good for the Tourist industry, I don't know. I don't think the "rental tax" is over the top by any means. May be it will serve to protect tourists in the long run
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Post by atavus on Jun 1, 2006 8:16:37 GMT 1
Don't register, it is really no problem, I did it for a year and was stopped by the police at least 20 times.
It is about time these people started paying tax like everybody else, and also pass safety requirements and all other things one would expect of a licenced guest house.
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Post by lojalnost on Jun 1, 2006 8:25:15 GMT 1
You won't get away with it now, in the first instance its not the police, but an inspector from the local authority, but in the second instance the police will come and throw the tourists out on the street! So in that respect Ian is right in saying that it is draconian.
Funny thing is the culprits will immediately blame their neighbours falling in line with the true old commie tell tale fashion, not realising that an inspector can just drive around and see the huge rental apartment complex with swimming pool which has just sprung up. Oh dear oh dear.
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Post by atavus on Jun 1, 2006 9:00:22 GMT 1
Wont get away with what? not registering? I assure you you will, I have and know many people who are, its really no big deal anyway.
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Post by lojalnost on Jun 1, 2006 10:00:52 GMT 1
...it is a big deal if you get caught, if not the fine, the stigma
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Post by atavus on Jun 1, 2006 10:07:55 GMT 1
Are we talking about the people who rent out their apartments or the tourists?
The apartment people could get caught I agree, but the tourists are very unlikely to be caught.
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Post by lojalnost on Jun 1, 2006 10:12:02 GMT 1
Yeah I'm talking about the former. Love you then Kiss kiss
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Post by atavus on Jun 1, 2006 10:33:30 GMT 1
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Post by lojalnost on Jun 1, 2006 10:47:56 GMT 1
you took the words right out of my mouth!
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Post by Ribaric on Jun 1, 2006 15:37:25 GMT 1
What're you two talking about?
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Post by Knedla on Jun 1, 2006 18:06:57 GMT 1
I hear that there has been a sudden clampdown on rentals, that guests who have turned up at the police or tourist office to register in the last few days have been unable to do so unless they are staying at a house with a legal rental licence or if claiming to be 'family or close friend' that the person who owns the house goes with the guest and armed with legal documents that shows that they own the property and register them in person. (An alternative is an officially translated and notorized document stating that the person is family. and presumably that will wear thin after 2-3 times with 'family" staying.) Anyone else experienced this or know if this is just a draconian flexing of the muscles? I understand that Croatia has reckoned up how much money it thinks it is losing by grey renting but this sounds like a huge reaction. So you say, ok, don't register but then talk of prosecuting owners and agents abounds and of deporting the guests. Any thoughts? I don't think it is right to take any action against the tourist. Some are just ignorant to the law, why should you punish someone who maybe just does not know. The owners are who they should go after if they want to enforce this law. I think it might be about time that they start doing this. That way everyone is on the up and up. Fair for all, you know ehh.
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Post by Valleycat on Jun 1, 2006 19:10:02 GMT 1
OMG. .. do you think this will keep away the real relatives??? LOL
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ianl
Full Member
Posts: 80
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Post by ianl on Jun 4, 2006 8:36:51 GMT 1
Thanks for the thoughts folks, sorry I didn't get back to this until now. I don't have a problem with being legal and the government taking a fair tax but its SO difficult and costly to do renting legally and such a hassle, plus you get conflicting views over what is necessary. We'll see what happens, maybe this will die down a bit when the huffing and puffing is over, interesting to see what happens in July, school holiday time when the tourist numbers peak and whether they are stopped in the streets.
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Post by AndyPandy on Jun 7, 2006 13:14:05 GMT 1
As per usual with Croatia, nobody including those in authority (police Gov lawyers) knows what the rules are, people even those "in the know" tell you different things and people make them up as they go along. This is true of my experience and others on this board in anything from car ownership, property renting etc.
The spokesman says many people claim that persons renting on holiday are family or friends of the owner. Well what if they actually are? It is up to the authorities to prove they are not. How much manpower is that gonna take up??? Far too much for the the average lazy Cro gov. official.
And in any case how can they show who the owner is for those that are still waiting 4/5 years for ownership papers from the lazy thick Int. Ministry?
I do believe that people who let out properties should pay tax, but what about those who genuinely only let friends/family stay for free???
If a Croat policeman through any of my friends out on the street I would find where he lives and chuck his family out of his own house too.
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