Rēzekne woman's flat put up for auction over debts while she is in psychiatric care

In Rēzekne, a city in Latvia's Latgale region, a sworn bailiff has put up for auction the flat of a woman with mental health problems who is currently being treated in a psychiatric hospital. The case was reported by the programme "Bez tabu", citing concerned neighbours. The flat is being sold because the woman has fallen into debt.

What the neighbours say

The woman, about 42 years old, has lived in one of the building's flats since birth, residents say. Neighbours note that she does not disturb others, although her health problems sometimes make themselves felt.

Residents are shocked and fear that losing her home would damage her health even further. Some even suggest that, if she learned she might lose her home, she could take her own life.

Neighbours say that for a long time, until a few years ago, a trusted person looked after the woman, and at that time she had no debts. After that person died, she was left alone and unsupervised, and debts piled up.

The question of legal capacity

The auction was set up by Lilija Solovjova, a sworn bailiff of the Latgale District Court. She told the programme that if the woman had been declared legally incapable, the flat would not have been put up for auction. Neighbours do not understand why the woman's legal capacity was not restricted long ago, since they believe she is unable to manage paying her bills.

What could be done

To prevent her from losing the flat, the Rēzekne Social Service, doctors and the bailiff would need to cooperate and urgently assess her legal capacity. If it is concluded that she cannot look after herself, a court must be asked to restrict her legal capacity. If the court grants the request, a guardian appointed by the orphan's court (bāriņtiesa) would handle her transactions.