Seller's Checklist: What to Resolve Before Putting Your Property Up for Buyout

1. Verify Ownership and Status in the Czech Land Registry

Your first step is to obtain the current Czech Land Registry extract (výpis z katastru nemovitostí), as it shows who is entitled to sell and what encumbrances affect the property. Ownership rights are transferred only upon registration in the land registry by the land office (katastrální úřad) under the Czech Land Registry Act No. 256/2013.

Check the following details on the extract:

• Owners and ownership shares – only the owner may sell; with shared ownership (spoluvlastnictví), the cooperation of all co-owners is required or only your share can be sold;
• Mortgages and other registered charges (typicky hypotéka – typically mortgages);
• Enforcement notes, insolvency or litigation proceedings;
• Easements (věcná břemena), for example usufruct (right of residence) or utility rights;
• Correspondence between the actual state and the recorded state – land type, building, any extensions.

For more details on working with the land registry, see the guide Czech Land Registry: A Guide for Property Owners.

2. Establish What Encumbrances Affect the Property and Debts Outstanding

Mortgages and debts are not an obstacle to sale if you know their exact amount and they can be settled from the purchase price. Therefore, obtain the necessary information in advance.

• Mortgage or other secured loan: contact your bank for the current debt balance as of a specific date and the terms for removing the mortgage (lien).
• Enforcement proceedings (exekuce): find out who the bailiff is, the enforcement case number, and the amount being claimed. Enforcement is governed by the Czech Enforcement Rules No. 120/2001; see more on buying properties in enforcement proceedings.
• Insolvency: if insolvency proceedings are ongoing, your authority to deal with the property may be restricted under the Czech Insolvency Act No. 182/2006. You can check the status in the insolvency register.

If foreclosure is a risk, note that the minimum bid is two-thirds of the estimated value (§ 336e of the Czech Civil Procedure Code No. 99/1963; similar principles apply in enforcement proceedings). Voluntary sale therefore often offers greater control over the outcome.

3. Review Operating Debts: HOA Fees, Utilities, and Charges

It's best to know about any debts related to the property's operation in advance, as they affect the settlement and handover date.

• HOA or housing cooperative (SVJ – společenství vlastníků jednotek, or družstvo): request confirmation of payment status for the repair fund and service contributions, as well as information about planned investments and cooperative loans.
• Utilities and services: have on hand the latest utility bills, meter readings, and contracts with service providers so the handover can be completed cleanly.
• Local taxes and property tax: verify there are no arrears with your municipality or tax authority.
• Property insurance: check if the insurance policy is valid; after the transfer, cancel or reassign it according to your agreement and the policy terms.

These amounts are typically resolved in the contract and can be paid from the purchase price via escrow.

4. Clarify Who Lives in the Property and on What Basis

Tenants, household members, and usufruct rights affect the price and handover date, so don't conceal them.

• Prepare tenancy agreements, rental amounts, proof of deposits paid, and payment records.
• Check whether there is a registered usufruct (právo doživotního bydlení – right of residence) or other third-party rights.
• Agree with other household members on the moving and handover date.
• For married couples, verify whether the property is part of marital property (společné jmění manželů – joint marital property); under the Czech Civil Code No. 89/2012, consent from both spouses is required for certain actions.

For multi-unit residential buildings (činžovní dům) with tenants, see our buyout service for rental properties where valuation is based on rental income. If you wish to remain living in the property, consider selling with retained usufruct rights.

5. Co-owners, Inheritance, and Technical Documentation

For shared ownership and newly inherited properties, clarify the legal status before negotiating price.

• The general pre-emption right of co-owners was abolished on 1 July 2020, so it no longer applies to current sales. If the share arose through inheritance, pre-emption rights exist only for six months from the creation of co-ownership (§ 1124 of the Czech Civil Code No. 89/2012). Check whether this deadline is running.
• For inherited property, have the final court decision on inheritance and ensure it is registered in the Czech Land Registry.
• If selling only a share, see our page on buying property shares.

From technical documentation, you will need the title document, a copy of the cadastral map, an energy label (if applicable), a completion certificate or building permit, and records of renovations. For unauthorised buildings and extensions, refer to the Czech Building Act No. 283/2021 and do not conceal them – they can be resolved in advance.

6. How Payment, Registration, and Taxes Work

A reputable buyout is conducted cashless through attorney escrow, and ownership transfers only upon registration in the Czech Land Registry. Under Czech law No. 254/2004, cash payments are limited to CZK 270,000 per day, so larger amounts must not be paid in cash.

1. You will review a non-binding written offer with a breakdown of the calculation (within 24 hours; 48 hours for multi-unit buildings).
2. A deposit of up to CZK 1,000,000 may be paid when signing the purchase contract.
3. The purchase price is placed in attorney escrow and used to settle creditors, with the remainder paid to you.
4. The land office cannot decide on registration before 20 days have passed since notifying the owner; the average registration time is approximately 22 days.

The transfer tax on real property was abolished by law No. 386/2020. Income tax on the proceeds is governed by law No. 586/1992 and generally depends on how long you owned the property and whether you lived in it. Verify this with the Czech Tax Authority (Finanční správa) or a tax advisor.

What to Do Now

Download the land registry extract, list your debts, and fill out the form below – you'll get a non-binding offer or assessment at no charge.

1. Request the current Czech Land Registry extract and verify the owners and mortgages.
2. Contact your bank, bailiff, or HOA to establish exact debt amounts.
3. Prepare tenancy agreements and information about occupants.
4. Gather utility bills, insurance documents, and building records.
5. Estimate the price using our valuation calculator and review the buyout process.

Attorney escrow and legal services are included in the price at no extra charge; see our complete legal service package. The offer is non-binding and you may withdraw until the contract is signed. If any part of the checklist is unresolved, that's fine – include it in the form and we'll work through the next steps together.