Searching for a decent flat in Belgrade can be compared to finding a mate. The selection is dim, the price is too high for the quality you'll get and most of the time, you have to do with something you're not quite satisfied with.
Office space is another kind of pursuit altogether.
The reasons behind this seemingly absurd situation lie in ordinary corruption, blood-ties and basic scams. Let's take one of the political parties SPO as an example. They have acquired some of the best retail space in town for their bookstore, offices and coffee shop and are currently scooping out more choice space from some downtown residents for their relatives, friends and business partners. It all boils down to family relations and having your own people in local power. No, it's not fair, and the opposition-led City Hall, for all its democratic posturing, doesn't seem to want to take a crack at this problem, nor is the independent press writing about it.