ANAF Seizes Iohannis Family Property in Sibiu After Prolonged Legal Battle

ANAF Takes Possession of Sibiu Property

The National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) in Romania officially took possession of a property in Sibiu belonging to the family of former President Klaus Iohannis on Friday, October 3, 2025. The action involved ANAF agents changing the locks at the address 29 Nicolae Bălcescu Street, marking a significant development in a long-standing legal dispute over the property's ownership and associated rental income.

ANAF confirmed that it legally took over a half share (1/2) of the property. The agency stated that while the former owners had agreed to allow access, their non-participation in the handover process necessitated the changing of the entrance lock. Adrian Nica, President of ANAF, affirmed that the institution acted 'transparently and in compliance with procedures, ensuring the exercise of the Romanian state's rights as owner.'

Decades-Long Legal Saga and Financial Implications

The property at 29 Nicolae Bălcescu Street, a commercial space, was owned by the Iohannis family until 2015 and was notably rented to Raiffeisen Bank for many years. The legal battle surrounding this and another property has its roots in a controversial restitution process following the communist regime. Courts later determined that the inheritance certificate underpinning the Iohannis family's claim to the property was illegal or invalid.

A crucial ruling in November 2015 by the Brașov Court of Appeal found that the Iohannis couple had illegally occupied the property, leading to the removal of their property title from the land registry in April 2016. However, the state's full recovery of the property and the collected rents was delayed by ongoing litigation concerning a separate property at 35 Magheru Street in Sibiu.

The final legal obstacle was cleared in September 2024 when the High Court of Cassation and Justice (ÎCCJ) ruled definitively against the Iohannis family regarding the 35 Magheru Street property. This decision not only confirmed the illegality of the inheritance certificate for that building but also mandated the return of all proceeds obtained from its rental to the state.

ANAF Demands Nearly EUR 1 Million in Rents

Following these court decisions, ANAF notified Klaus Iohannis in August 2025 to vacate the property and to pay a substantial sum representing collected rent, penalties, and interest. The total amount demanded from the Iohannis family is approximately EUR 1 million, or 4.7 million lei, covering rents collected between 1999 and 2015, along with accrued penalties and interest.

Reports indicate that the Iohannis family had collected over EUR 320,000 in rent from the Nicolae Bălcescu Street property alone between 1999 and 2016. ANAF has indicated its intention to pursue further legal action to recover these owed sums if voluntary payment is not made.