The Saeima of Latvia has fast-tracked amendments to property laws in response to cases like that of the Stankeviču family, who face losing their home purchased from a fraudster.
The Saeima, Latvia's parliament, has moved swiftly to amend property laws following prolonged discussions about protecting families facing potential property loss due to fraudulent sales. This change comes in light of the case of the Stankeviču family, who purchased an apartment in 2020 that was sold from a fraudster, putting their home at risk. Although the Saeima had pledged to protect honest buyers five years ago, it took significant time to find a viable solution.
The new proposal from the Ministry of Justice allows courts to decide whether a property involved in a criminal act should remain with its honest buyer or return to the previous owner. This legislation aims to address scenarios where families like the Stankeviču family, which includes two small children, are left vulnerable due to property deals that turned out to be based on deception. Despite promises from lawmakers, previous efforts to implement a protective measure had stalled due to the complexity of the cases.
During the parliamentary discussion, Edgars Tavars, the leader of the United List faction, emphasized the need for urgent action, highlighting issues with the government's failure to fulfill its obligations to protect families from such predicaments. The Saeima’s action this week reflects a possible shift towards a more responsive legal framework to safeguard families from property issues linked to fraud, ensuring they can retain their homes. The bill's swift passage might provide relief to affected families across Latvia experiencing similar situations, restoring some sense of security in the property market.
