According to data from Montenegro’s latest population census, there are 392,910 housing units in the country, but over 160,000 are not used for permanent residence. Of these, 89,080 are seasonal homes, and 71,200 are vacant or abandoned—representing more than 40% of the total housing stock.
At the same time, around 30,000 renter families face daily insecurity, lacking legal protections, fair rental contracts, and stable prices. The Tenants’ Association of Montenegro – “Moj Dom” – describes this as a failure of housing policy, where available resources do not match the population’s needs.
The association has been advocating for tenant rights for four years, calling for:
A national registry of tenants and landlords for transparency;
Legal regulation of long-term rentals;
Rent subsidies for vulnerable groups;
Taxation or incentives to activate empty homes;
Price control in high-demand urban areas;
Development of public and social housing;
Involvement of civil society in housing policy planning.
The group warns that without reforms, new construction projects may simply create more unused luxury properties, further deepening the crisis. They urge authorities to treat housing as a human right, not just an investment opportunity.
