Someone explained to me why the homeowner from the previous story could have been so aggressive. Serbia has a major problem with illegal construction. It happened that way historically. A bunch of wars in the region over the last 100 years, economic instability, and an incredibly sluggish bureaucratic system led to people building first and then dealing with paperwork. If they felt like it. According to the registry of the ministry of construction, there are now over 2 million illegal buildings registered. Half of them are residential buildings. For a country with a population of less than 7 million, these are astronomical numbers.

The authorities are trying to fight this phenomenon, but citizens aren't in a huge rush to legalize their properties. Even despite increasingly tightening legislative measures.

The government and various media outlets are calling on residents to report illegal construction to oversight bodies. In one of these guides, I especially liked the section "what to do if your complaint gets no response." Anyway, after filing a complaint, they're supposed to send an inspector who photographs the structure and then launches a demolition procedure. The building can be saved by legal exemptions: if it was built before 2015 or is in the process of legalization. As proof of the construction date, you can provide a satellite image taken no later than November 2015. Future's here (:​

Looks like they mistook me for such an inspector. The rental car's license plates were local, from Belgrade. I was photographing the house. Makes sense. I wouldn't be happy either with someone about to demolish my home.