The new property and housing laws in the Federation of BiH put in place a process for reclaiming socially-owned apartments which were declared abandoned during the war. You should file your claim to repossess with the housing authority in the Federation municipality where the apartment is located. Standard Claim Forms, advice and further information can be obtained from the Coalition for Return, UNHCR, OSCE, IOM, legal advice centres in BiH and diplomatic missions abroad.
Many people have experienced problems when they try to file their claims, including requirements which are not in accordance with the law such as the payment of fees or demands for additional documents. OHR, with UNHCR, OSCE, ECMM, the Federation Ombudsmen, the Coalition for Return, and the CRPC, are working to ensure that the claims filing process works as the law intended, and many problems have already been resolved. We are also aware that many applicants have not received a decision in the time period provided by the law, and we are intervening to encourage timely and just adjudication of claims.
We would urge people to be persistent in attempting to file their claim for socially-owned apartments, keeping in mind that there are only two months left until the 4 October 1998 deadline for filing claims.