site.btaLabour Ministry Joins National Push Against Real Estate Fraud in Elder Care Sector

In a press release on Friday, the Labour and Social Policy Ministry said it supports and assists the state’s joint efforts to prevent real estate fraud. Teams from the Agency for Quality of Social Services (AQSS), within their competencies, have participated and continue to participate in large-scale inspections organized jointly with other relevant ministries, the Ministry said.

The Labour Ministry is advocating for amendments to the Penal Code to establish criminal liability for individuals who provide social services without a license or fail to meet quality standards, resulting in danger to the lives and health of service users. The number of AQSS inspections has been steadily increasing, reaching over 900 in 2024, compared to 380 in 2021, without any increase in the agency’s human resources, the Ministry said.

The Ministry also commented on a specific case mentioned in media reports. In 2022, the regulatory authority identified multiple violations during an inspection of a social service provided by a company that has become publicly known through an investigation into property fraud involving its users. The company, licensed to provide residential care for the elderly, had housed individuals with permanent disabilities – who are not part of the license's target group – and offered services without contracts. As a result, two administrative violation acts were issued and the Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office was notified. During a follow-up inspection of the service provider in 2025, AQSS issued a mandatory order to address violations related to non-compliance with statutory quality standards for social services. A follow-up inspection to verify compliance is scheduled for June.

Earlier on Friday, Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev told reporters in Parliament that, by order of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, a nationwide operation is underway to inspect hospices and elderly care homes, both licensed institutions and those reported as operating illegally, in connection with the crackdown on the "property mafia" announced more than two months ago.

Earlier on Friday, Nova TV aired an investigative report revealing how the owner of a hospice in Sofia had acquired the properties of several patients.