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Housing

Setting Up Utilities in Serbia

A complete guide to setting up and paying for utilities in Serbia: electricity, water, gas, heating, internet, and TV — how to sign up, transfer accounts, and pay your bills.

The information in this guide may be incomplete or outdated. Laws and regulations in Serbia may change. Before making important decisions, be sure to consult official sources or professionals.

Overview

When moving into a new home in Serbia, you will need to set up or transfer utility services to your name. The process depends on the type of property (apartment or house) and whether you are renting or buying. In most rental situations, the landlord will assist with the transfer, but it is helpful to understand how everything works.

Electricity (EPS)

Electricity in Serbia is supplied by Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS). To transfer the electricity contract to your name, you will need:

  • Your passport or ID card
  • A rental agreement or property purchase contract
  • The most recent paid electricity bill from the previous occupant

Visit the nearest EPS office with these documents. You can find information about office locations and tariffs on the Elektroprivreda Srbije website. The standard voltage in Serbia is 220V, 50Hz, and the country uses European-style outlets (type C and F).

Water Supply

Water services are managed by municipal utility companies. In Belgrade, the provider is Beogradski vodovod i kanalizacija (BVK). Transferring the account requires similar documents: your ID, rental or purchase agreement, and the latest bill. Detailed information is available on the BVK website.

In other cities, each municipality has its own water utility company — ask your landlord or the local municipal office (opstina) for the name and address.

Gas Supply

If your property is connected to the gas network, the supplier is Srbijagas or a local distribution company. The contract transfer process is similar to other utilities. More information is available on the Srbijagas website.

Note that not all apartments and houses in Serbia have a gas connection. Many buildings rely on electric stoves for cooking instead.

Central Heating (Toplana)

Many apartment buildings in Serbia use centralized district heating, known as toplana. Key points to know:

  • The heating season typically runs from October 15 to April 15
  • Charges are calculated based on the square footage of your apartment, not actual consumption
  • The service is managed by a municipal company (in Belgrade, this is "Beogradske elektrane")
  • The account transfer happens automatically when ownership or tenancy changes

If your building does not have central heating, alternatives include gas boilers, electric heaters, or air conditioning units with a heating function.

Internet and Television

To set up internet and TV service in Serbia, you can choose from several major providers:

  1. SBB (Serbia Broadband) — cable internet and TV, widely available in cities
  2. MTS (Telekom Srbija) — fiber optic and ADSL internet, IPTV
  3. Yettel (formerly Telenor) — mobile and home internet services
  4. A1 Serbia — mobile internet and TV packages

To sign up, you will typically need:

  • Your passport or ID card
  • Your residential address
  • A Serbian phone number (in some cases)

Providers offer bundle packages (internet + TV + mobile) at discounted rates. Internet speeds in major cities are quite good, ranging from 50 to 1000 Mbps depending on the plan and technology.

Transferring Utilities to Your Name

The general process for transferring utility accounts is as follows:

  1. Obtain the most recent bills and contract numbers from the previous owner or tenant
  2. Visit the office of each utility provider (or use their website if available)
  3. Present your passport, rental agreement, and the details of the previous contract
  4. Sign a new contract in your name
  5. Confirm how you will receive bills — by mail, email, or through the provider's app

Some providers allow partial online registration, but for the initial setup you will most likely need to visit in person. Bring copies of all documents as well as originals.

Paying Your Bills

There are several convenient ways to pay utility bills in Serbia:

  • Online banking — most banks allow you to pay bills through their app or website by scanning the QR code on the invoice
  • Post office (Posta Srbije) — you can pay in cash at any post office branch, a very common method used by locals
  • Bank branch — pay at the bank teller window with cash or from your account
  • Payment terminals — self-service kiosks located in large shops and malls
  • Standing order (trajni nalog) — set up at your bank for automatic monthly payments

Bills arrive monthly. It is important to pay on time to avoid late fees and the possibility of service disconnection. Keep your payment receipts — they may be needed if there is a dispute or when transferring the account in the future.