Anyone looking to move to a small town near the Slovak-Hungarian border must speak the Hungarian language at least at a conversational level. This requirement is backed by law, and the local municipal council voted in favor of enacting the regulation at its meeting yesterday. Additional conditions also apply to new residents.

Many towns are imposing residency restrictions

Unlike towns around Budapest or Lake Balaton, where high numbers of new residents often lead to infrastructure, education, and social issues due to real estate buyers moving in for investment purposes, northeastern Hungary isn’t known for holding onto its population. That’s why it may seem surprising that many communities in the region are using a law passed by parliament allowing municipalities to set conditions for who can move in.

Each town has different reasons for enacting local regulations. In Mezőkeresztes, for instance, critics argue that requiring proof of employment is an effort to avoid an increase in the already high unemployment rate and to steer clear of the added burdens posed by so-called “problematic” families. Some claim the true intent is to discourage Roma families from moving in. According to 444.hu, such regulations have so far been introduced mostly in towns with sizeable Roma populations.

However, the regulation in Mezőkeresztes has since been repealed following a legal review launched by the relevant government office.

Good command of Hungarian language required

A different rationale seems to be at play in Sátoraljaújhely, where the City Council passed a set of new rules yesterday. Among other criteria, only those with no criminal record, no public debts, and at least a high school diploma or vocational qualification can purchase property. Applicants must submit documents verifying these, along with proof of active employment or pension status. The council also mandated a minimum of 10 square meters of living space per person, according to 444.hu.

Source: Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

Since many Slovak nationals working in Western Europe have bought apartments in the area as investments, the new rules stipulate that non-native speakers must have at least conversational proficiency in Hungarian language to buy property. However, the regulation does not specify how this will be verified.

And that’s not all: each new resident must also pay an additional HUF 100,000 (approximately EUR 250) relocation fee.

Sátoraljaújhely’s population has shrunk by a third over the past 23 years. In 2002, the town had more than 18,000 residents; today, that number has fallen to barely 13,000.

Source: Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Will Sátoraljaújhely set a precedent?

According to 444.hu, requiring residents to speak Hungarian may violate the EU’s fundamental principle of free movement, making this regulation vulnerable to repeal.

Source: Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

If it stands, however, it could set a precedent. Several Hungarian border towns are struggling with high numbers of incoming residents from neighboring countries like Romania and Slovakia. The situation could just as easily be reversed, with majority ethnic populations in Transylvania, southern Slovakia, or other regions enacting similar rules that effectively exclude ethnic Hungarians who are less fluent in the dominant language.

Read more from us:

For more real estate news, click here.

To read or share this article in Hungarian, click here: Helló Magyar