A New Era for the “Plázastop” Regulation: Leasing and Ownership Transfers May Now Require Approval – Major Changes Ahead in the Commercial Real Estate Market
In August 2025, the Hungarian government adopted a significant amendment to the so-called Plázastop Decree (Government Decree No. 143/2018 (VIII. 13.)). The amendment entered into force on 17 September 2025 and introduces new approval requirements within a narrower scope than before. The new rules apply exclusively to retail units with a sales area exceeding 400 square meters, where the primary business activity is the sale of daily consumer goods such as food, cleaning products, and drugstore items.