Why We Built SelfBuild.Homes
"We want everyone moving to Bulgaria to know how things should be done — legally, professionally, and without expensive surprises."
Neil 🇬🇧
Neil — The British Expat
I spent 30 years in the UK working in logistics management. When I retired, Bulgaria wasn't my first thought — it was about my fifth. Spain felt overdone. Portugal had become expensive. Greece was complicated post-crisis. A friend who'd moved to Plovdiv talked about nothing else for two years, so eventually I got on a plane.
What I found surprised me. The countryside is genuinely beautiful — the Balkan Mountains, the Rose Valley, the rivers and forests. The food is good. The pace of life is what I'd been looking for. And the costs, if you do things right, are a fraction of anywhere else in Europe.
But I also nearly made some expensive mistakes. An estate agent showed me a property he described as "fully legal and ready to renovate." When I had it checked — properly checked, by a professional — it turned out to have no valid Act 16, an unresolved inheritance dispute involving three heirs, and an extension that had been built without any planning permission. That purchase would have been a disaster.
I met Miglena because a Bulgarian lawyer friend recommended her as the person who could make sense of a different property I was considering. She reviewed it in an afternoon and explained the Bulgarian system to me more clearly than anyone had in two years of research. I understood, for the first time, how it actually worked.
SelfBuild.Homes grew from that partnership. We want every British person coming to Bulgaria to have access to the knowledge that took me two years and several near-misses to accumulate. We want them to start from where we are now, not where I was then.
The Bulgarian countryside — where the journey began
Miglena 🇧🇬
Miglena — The Architect
I trained as an architect in Bulgaria and have practised for over 15 years, primarily in residential design and planning. I work with Bulgarian building law every day — not as an obstacle, but as the framework within which good buildings are made.
When foreigners ask me why Bulgarian property law is so complicated, I try to explain that it isn't — not if you understand it. The rules are clear, the process is defined, and the outcomes for well-managed projects are very good. The confusion arises when people try to navigate it without professional guidance, or rely on agents who don't understand what they're selling.
My practice designs residential buildings to Bulgarian standards and sees them through from concept to Act 16. For the plots we offer through SelfBuild.Homes, I provide a verified legal assessment, a designed house plan adapted for the specific site, and management of the planning permission process.
I believe in Bulgaria's architecture — traditional forms, good materials, buildings that belong in their landscape. Our house plans reflect this. They are not suburban imports. They are designed for this climate, this culture, and these landscapes.
Working with Neil and SelfBuild.Homes has allowed me to help a much wider range of clients than my practice alone could reach. Many British retirees come to Bulgaria with genuine enthusiasm and genuine investment capacity. They deserve accurate, professional guidance. That's what we provide.
Bulgarian residential design — traditional forms, contemporary living
Our Mission
We want everyone moving to Bulgaria to know how things should be done — legally, professionally, and without expensive surprises.
Bulgaria offers something genuinely rare: affordable land, beautiful scenery, low costs of living, and EU membership. We want people to access that — correctly, legally, without the nightmare stories we hear too often.
Operating Entities
Trebor Properties
UK-registered entity managing the land portfolio and client relationships for British buyers.
Lemon Holdings
UK holding company for the overall SelfBuild.Homes business operations.
Miglena's Architectural Practice
Licensed Bulgarian architectural firm providing all planning, design, and construction management services. Registered with the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria (КАБ).
Operating through Trebor Properties & Lemon Holdings (UK & Bulgaria)
What We Stand For
Honesty
We tell you what's wrong with properties and deals, not just what sells. Our advice is worth more than our commission.
Legal Compliance
Every recommendation we make is legally correct. We will not help anyone cut corners that compromise the integrity of a project.
Education First
A client who understands the process makes better decisions and has fewer regrets. We invest time in explanation, not just transaction.
Long-term Relationships
We want clients who recommend us. That means outcomes, not sales. Bulgaria is a small world and reputation matters.
Ready to build your Bulgarian home — legally?
Talk to Neil and Miglena. First consultation is free and completely without pressure.