The Montenegrin Tenants’ Association has expressed its approval of the newly released Monstat data regarding tenant numbers in the country, revealing that over 23,000 individuals reside in rented accommodations. Additionally, around 22,000 people are living with parents, children, or other relatives.

While these figures may not completely capture the reality, particularly due to the informal nature of many rental agreements, they stand as the first institutional acknowledgment of the Association’s long-standing concerns—that a significant number of Montenegrins endure housing insecurity, lacking both a secure residence and adequate legal protections.

“These figures, despite not fully representing the situation due to existing informal leasing practices, serve as the first formal confirmation of our claims—that tens of thousands in Montenegro face housing insecurity without a stable home or sufficient legal safeguards,” the Association stated.

“We believe the actual number of tenants is higher because many remain unregistered for various reasons, primarily landlords’ reluctance to fulfill tax and administrative responsibilities. This underlines the urgent need to regulate the rental market to protect tenant rights, ensure tax fairness, and avert abuses and unsafe living conditions,” the Tenants’ Association added in their press release.

Furthermore, the Association highlighted that the fact over 22,000 citizens are living with relatives underscores a broader issue of housing dependency affecting not only tenants but also young people unable to afford their own homes and elderly individuals reliant on family support. They interpret this as a sign of a systemic housing crisis rather than a mere personal choice.

“We urge relevant institutions, particularly the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, and local authorities, to promptly initiate the development of a Housing Strategy, introduce legal frameworks for subtenancy that safeguard all parties, and create models for affordable and social housing for vulnerable populations. The Monstat data provides no justification for inaction—it is time for Montenegro to acknowledge the right to housing as a fundamental human right rather than a market-based privilege,” concluded the statement.

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