Residents are angry about the new registration center fee: the previously free service now costs twice as much

Imagine inheriting, receiving a gift, or buying a home. This fact is registered by the Center of Registers and for this it is necessary to pay a fee of 8 euros.

“A fee is charged just for the registration of the fact,” said Marius Stračkaitis, president of the Chamber of Notaries of Lithuania.

Don’t be confused, this is not related to the title registration fee. In order for it to be transferred to you, you need to pay separately. Residents are outraged that another payment has appeared.

“The Registry Center has started to charge a fee for the de-registration of legal facts that are related to the emergence of property rights,” stated M. Stračkaitis.

This means that once again you only pay for the deregistration of the fact that you bought, inherited or received a gift before. Until now, the Registry Center did this automatically and free of charge.

“In my mind, this rate is meaningless. For decades it was not necessary to pay for it, because it does not change the ownership or the owner. He registers and de-registers a fact that has no legal significance”, pointed out the president of the Chamber of Notaries of Lithuania.

The de-registration fee is the same as the registration fee. This means that the resident pays twice as much to the Registry Center from now on, and does not receive any new service. The amount varies and depends on how quickly the procedures are carried out, as well as on the amount of assets.

“After inheriting ten immovable items of small value to my son – a fence, a well, an outdoor kitchen, the house itself – if they are registered in the usual way, the son now has to pay close to 100 euros just for the registration of this fact,” said M. Stračkaitis.

So, the sum is round. Residents pay the fees for such Registry Center services to the notary, who already transfers the money to the state-owned company.

“The conductor of the expression of dissatisfaction is a notary,” said M. Stračkaitis.

Lawyers explain that such a fee was a surprise to them, and even without it, residents complain that the services of the Registry Center are too expensive.

“Maybe in 2018, I registered property in Šalčininkai. The ruins of the house remain there, but in one area there is a well and several other buildings that once burned down. I paid about 600 euros for everything,” said the woman.

“Everyone raises the prices as they know how,” said the man.

“Well, I paid a few dozen. Work is work,” said another interviewee.

What changed, that the free procedure had to be charged, LNK inquired about the Registry Center itself, but it only sent a written answer.

“According to December 6, 2023 According to the government’s decision, a new version of the provisions of the Real Estate Register entered into force on January 1 of this year, which stipulates that together with the request to register the ownership right, a request to deregister the legal facts about the emergence of this right must be submitted. For the deregistration of a legal fact, a fee determined by the Government is paid. So, in this case, the Registry Center is simply following the legal acts,” the comment stated.

“It was the Registry Center that expressed such a need,” asserted Paulius Žeimys, advisor to the Minister of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice explains that such a service has never been free. It was paid for with all the taxpayers’ money.

“It was carried out with the resources of the Registry Center and the funds allocated to the state budget center,” P. Žeimys said.

Now it was decided that it is more logical to pay for the service to specific persons, but after receiving complaints, the Ministry of Justice decided to change the rates. He promises to do that in May.

“We will apply the tax proportionally, taking into account the real estate transaction, and not as a sheet, covering every deregistered legal fact,” P. Žeimys said.

The Register Center is one of the largest state enterprises. According to the latest data, in 2022 their profit reached 8 million. euros.

You can find the full report on the LNK portal: