According to a decision by the Court of First Instance of Durrës, 32 families living in former beach cabins on "Albanopoli" street must vacate their homes by October 5.
“Upon the expiry of the voluntary period, in case of inaction […] the execution will be carried out in a mandatory manner,” cited in the court decision issued on September 18, 2025.
Nexhmir Belshari, a resident of these buildings for about 35 years, tells Citizens that the residents did not occupy them, but were sheltered according to a decision of the former Executive Committee of the communist system, which was later replaced in function by the structure of the Durrës municipality.
"We have the status of homeless people. We have been sheltered by the state and we are seeking solutions from the state," she emphasizes to Citizens.al.
Residents gathered on Monday in front of the City Hall for the second time, after being asked on September 26 to bring documents regarding their status, payments over the years for electricity and water bills, which prove their residence, as well as the declaration of the surface area itself.
Petrit Brodhina said that after the meeting, the municipality did not offer him any solution, but suggested that he and the other residents leave their homes within the specified deadline.
"Start going out and applying as homeless to the municipality! The worst thing is that they even preceded us and said we have three thousand people in line and we can't house them," Brodhima said, referring to the speech delivered to him by the Mayor of Durrës, Emiriana Sako.
The municipality is morally and legally responsible for the situation.
Lawyer Merita Dakovelli, who is also a resident of these buildings, explained that the families were not aware that a lawsuit had been opened by the owner of the land, Mikel Noçka, against the decision of the Durrës Municipal Council, which in 2009 had determined the possibility of privatization of these apartments in favor of the residents.
Dakovelli continues that the Municipal Council, represented by the Municipality of Durrës, was not present at the court hearings. According to the lawyer, the owner of the land, specifically the Noçka family, has entered into a privatization contract with the Ministry of Economy, i.e. "These buildings currently have shared ownership between the owner and the Ministry in question".
"We were not notified when the municipality handed over the buildings, because there is a handover deed as if the building was empty, while we were there. The municipality should feel indebted to us and should have offered an alternative housing option by 2013," continues Dakovelli.
Currently, the residents are at a disadvantage because they have to move out until the case is reviewed by the Appeals Court. She adds that the families have filed a separate appeal against the temporary execution decision to vacate the apartments.
"We have asked the municipality in one request not to grant a building permit during this period and secondly, if there are no other alternatives, for us to be tenants of the owner, to pay a social rent, until the situation is reviewed," the lawyer concluded.
This is the second situation in a few days where residents of the city of Durrës are protesting in front of the Municipality, over property issues.
Initially protests They were initiated by the residents of archaeological area A, specifically behind the Commercial Boulevard, who do not agree with the expropriation value, which has been determined by the government thanks to the project "Restoration and urban requalification of the TID perspective area".
Residents of the former beach cabins confirmed to Citizens that they may join the residents who are opposing the revitalization project of the castle area for stronger resistance, even though they come from different urban contexts.
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He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
