Starting this October, buying property in Rajka, a village near the Slovak border, will no longer be as simple as it once was. The local council has introduced strict new regulations requiring a 1.5 million forint (approx. 3,800 €) “settlement tax,” a clean criminal record, and for foreign buyers to deregister their previous place of residence within 60 days of moving.
The official goal, according to the local government, is to preserve community identity, limit crime, and manage the rapid population growth the village has experienced over the past decade. However, the move has sparked heated debate and divided the local population, especially due to its perceived ethnic implications.
Over the past ten years, Rajka’s population has tripled, swelling to around 7,000 residents. The demographic shift has been dramatic: nearly 75% of current residents are Slovak nationals, many of whom have moved from Bratislava, just 15 kilometers away, drawn by lower housing prices on the Hungarian side of the border.
From October 1, Rajka will make use of new national legislation aimed at protecting local identity. However, the regulation has caused friction, with some residents interpreting it as targeted against Slovaks. Some people are deliberately misinterpreting this out of malice,” said Mayor Vince Kiss in an interview with Index.hu.
We finally have the legal tools to limit in-migration. Of course, it would have been better to do this 10 or 20 years ago. Rajka has developed, but with a larger community comes more tension. That said, we have proven over the years that we are one of the most welcoming villages in Europe—we have Slovaks, Czechs, Ukrainians, Russians, Serbians, and even South Americans living here.”
The mayor added that the real estate boom is fading, most single-family plots are built out, and only one apartment complex remains under construction. The regulation, he noted, comes late—but better late than never.
Photo: Pixabay
He emphasized that current residents—whether Hungarian or Slovak—will not be affected by the new rules.
The aim is to protect honest locals by preventing criminals from settling here. We have had serious issues in the past—firearms arsenals and drugs worth hundreds of millions were found in the village.”
Miklós Rusó, a Slovak-born real estate agent who moved to Rajka in 2005, fears the regulation will harm law-abiding newcomers more than potential wrongdoers.
Honest people will suffer. With the new rules, buying property becomes harder, especially since the municipality and local residents now have pre-emption rights. I do not think this will scare off criminals—those intent on breaking the law will not even register their residence.”
While he acknowledges some neighborhood disputes, Rusó says ethnic tensions have been rare—until now. The new policy, he warns, may stir unnecessary anxiety.
He also pointed out that Rajka remains financially attractive for Slovaks:
For the price of a small 40–50 m² apartment in Bratislava—around 90–100 million forints (cc. €231 – 256,000) —you can buy a new four-bedroom house here.”
Still, he warns the regulation could temporarily dampen the local real estate market and lower property values, as potential buyers look elsewhere.
Bratislava Photo: Pixabay
Judit, a long-time Rajka resident, addressed the topic by saying:
There are constant problems with the Slovaks—except for a few exceptions. They speed around in their huge cars, and a few years ago, a child was killed in a tragic accident. In shops, they complain when staff do not speak Slovak. It is upside down—they should learn Hungarian!”
She is also opposed to plans to introduce Slovak language instruction in local schools:
We will not accept making Slovak mandatory in our schools. And many criminals have moved here too. The anti-terror unit (TEK) has been here more than once. The new rules are a good step, but they should have been introduced much earlier. Now it might be too late.”
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Via Index; Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
The post Border Boomtown Hits Brakes: Rajka Limits Home Sales to Outsiders appeared first on Hungary Today.
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