Housing Support Act: What is Being Introduced in the Long-awaited Legislation? by Ondřej Sliš
The housing crisis in the Czech Republic will have to be addressed at several levels. One of the most important aspects is the Housing Support Act which provides for the establishment of so-called housing contact points, guarantees for private landlords and housing assistance. The article explains exactly how these different components work and at what stage of the legislative process the forthcoming law is in.
Affordable Housing Can Be Built in the Czech Republic. The State Has Money for both Cities and Developers, by Ondřej Sliš
The Czech government has introduced several support programmes to foster the development of affordable rental housing in response to the housing crisis. These tools have been designed for municipalities of various sizes – and not just for them. Other entities, such as churches or non-profit organizations, can also participate. The article looks closely at these programmes, focusing on the range of subsidy recipients and financial instruments.
Activities of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in the Field of Affordable Housing, by Barbora Špicarová Stašková
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) is actively involved in addressing the housing affordability crisis in the Czech Republic. Since 2016, through the Social Housing Support project, MoLSA has been helping municipalities and non-profit organizations implement their projects financed by Operational Programme Employment (OPE+) to provide stable housing for people in housing need. This article focuses on key data regarding individuals in housing need, based on the ETHOS classification survey, and introduces the results of 70 social housing projects. These projects have piloted essential tools of the Housing Support Act, including housing assistance to support clients in settling into new homes and housing contact points in municipalities with extended powers (MEP), which are guaranteed by intermediaries to facilitate communication between tenants and private landlords. The Housing Support Act, currently undergoing the parliamentary approval process, is expected to come into force in January 2026, with MoLSA as a co-organiser (the lead authority being the Ministry of Regional Development – MRD). Besides legislative measures, MoLSA cooperates with other ministries to support affordable and energy-efficient housing, implementing strategic policies, and establishing the Social Climate Fund. Additionally, it has launched a new call for social housing projects funded by European funds (CZK 600 million), allowing municipalities, non-profit organisations, and other entities to submit applications until June.
Information on the Spatial Development Policy of the Czech Republic Updates No. 9 and 8, by Filip Novosád, Hana Máchová, Jakub Kotrla
The Government of the Czech Republic approved the Spatial Development Policy of the Czech Republic Update No. 9, developed by the Ministry of Regional Development, by Resolution No. 64 on 29 January 2025. The Czech Republic Spatial Development Policy Update No. 8 is currently under development.
The Use of Building Administration Information Systems in the Transition Period, by Aleš Mácha
The article deals with the impact of the so-called legislative bypass, which creates legal prerequisites for the operation of building administration information systems together with the use of existing local systems of building authorities and spatial planning authorities. The article aims to make people aware of the principles of legislative bypass and its impact on the functioning of building authorities and spatial planning authorities.
180 Green Infrastructure Projects in Public Spaces Worth CZK 5.2 billion Has Already Been Subsidised by the IROP, by Ondřej Pešek
Green Infrastructure, New European Bauhaus, and public spaces in cities and municipalities - all this fit into the Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP). The Ministry of Regional Development subsidises green infrastructure in public spaces of cities and municipalities in the 2021-2027 period and by the end of January 2025, 180 projects worth CZK 5.2 billion have already been subsidised.
Measuring Housing Affordability - a Hard Nut to Crack, by Eliška Vejchodská
Housing affordability is one of the most pressing material social issues today, significantly influencing public debate and attracting media attention. This article focuses on the issue of measuring housing affordability using indicators employed in international comparisons. It presents key housing affordability indicators and examines how housing affordability in the Czech Republic compares to other European Union countries from the perspective of various indicators. Using the Czech Republic as a case study, the article critically evaluates the possibilities and limitations of international comparisons, providing a more informed perspective on the Czech housing affordability situation.
Diversifying Housing Forms as Path to Affordability: Uncertainties Related to Collaborative Housing Development in the Czech Republic, by Tomáš Hoření Samec, Jan Malý Blažek, Lukáš Houser
Housing affordability for Czech households has declined in recent years, especially for lower-income households and for those entering the market without significant property assets. The last decade has been characterised by increases in private rents, construction costs, real estate and land prices that have outpaced average increases in household incomes, contributing to a potential increase in housing inequalities. In this article, we discuss the potential and limits of collaborative housing development in the Czech Republic, focusing predominantly on the uncertainties embedded in the institutional design of the legal and financial ecosystem and as perceived and reproduced by the stakeholders, specifically the prospective residents of collaborative housing projects. Our argument is based on a complex desk and field research which included a nationwide exploratory online survey and a series of participatory and multistakeholder workshops in the five Czech municipalities conducted between 2021 and 2023. The research with the workshop participants included informing them about the variety of forms and models of housing collaboration, exploring their perceptions and preferences regarding the modes of cooperation and sharing with the other households and also modelling of emerging housing projects. In this paper, we focus primarily on their perception of collaborative housing in terms of opportunities and uncertainties while illustrating the promise of potential increases of housing affordability through collaborative housing arrangements as crucial to the workshop participants. The perceived uncertainties mirror the emphasis on the affordability while also reflecting that the financing and legal forms are perceived as uncertain due to the unclear lack of standardized and predictable procedures when applying for a loan financing for instance. These uncertainties embedded in the institutional–financial and legal structures thus resonate in the perceptions of stakeholders and form a certain vicious circle that is difficult to break: the costs in time, energy and other resources for the pioneering housing project are high, while these could help to facilitate scaling up; there seems to be little interest in collaborative housing which then reinforces the relative inactivity of other stakeholders such as the financial industry and policy stakeholders. At the same time paradoxically, the best practice projects are perceived as necessary for further (public) support by institutional stakeholders. The future research could further explore who might be the leading actor(s) delivering the housing innovation in the above described setting of a Central Eastern European country with the dominance of private homeownership.
How to Get out of the Housing Crisis in the Czech Republic and Prague: not Construction itself, but mainly Quality and Diversified Housing and Construction Policy, by Václav Orcígr
The text summarises the main findings of the study conducted in 2024 in an environment of non-profit organisations and independent experts which has significantly influenced the public debate on housing, the causes of the crisis, its affordability and possible solutions. This unique analysis by a nine-member team of authors gathered the most up-to-date data available and examined each housing segment in detail. The editor and lead author of this analysis summarises both the complex causes of the crisis and in particular a set of solutions that, far from being based on the oft-repeated need to build, involve the promotion of comprehensive housing and planning policies that require the interaction of a wide range of actors.
Affordability and Quality of Housing in Prague: Two New Studies Analysing Current Situation and Development, by Zdeňka Havlová, Jan Sýkora
The article presents two new studies by the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague). They focus on the analysis of housing affordability in the capital city of Prague and examine two key aspects: the situation of the municipal housing stock and short-term private accommodation. The first study, "Situation and Development of Municipal Housing Stock in Prague - Update 2023", analyses the number, structure and use of municipal housing. There are approximately 29,841 municipal flats in Prague, representing 4.3% of the total housing stock, however, their number has been decreasing over time due to privatisation. The second study "Airbnb in Prague: Analysis of the situation and development of short-term accommodation" tracks the evolution of supply on the Airbnb platform between 2018 and 2023. It shows that most of these offers are concentrated in the centre of Prague, which affects the availability of housing for residents. Both studies serve as a basis for the city decision-making process and have been translated into English for wider accessibility. In addition, the Institute has created an interactive story map called "Prague for a Night" that shows the impacts of short-term rentals. Both of these outputs aim to support quality decision-making on the development of capital and contribute to the debate on the very topical issue of affordable housing.
Prague Development Company - Questions and Answers by Director Petr Urbánek
The Prague Development Company (PDS) is a contributory organization of the Capital City of Prague, which is responsible for the appreciation of urban land and the construction of mainly affordable rental housing projects. The PDS was inspired by similar urban development companies operating in the metropolises of Western Europe, in particular land development in the case of the world-renowned Hafen City project in Hamburg and the construction of affordable housing projects in Munich. PDS cooperates with the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), and respective municipal and local authorities on the development of rental housing projects. Questions were asked by Karel Wirth, a member of the journal's editorial board.
The Land Issue in Relation to Social Housing in Vienna, Kurt Hofstetter
The Vienna model of social housing is a key factor in the city‘s high quality of life. Thanks to a long-term political strategy emphasizing social sustainability, nearly 80% of households have access to affordable housing. The city faces population growth and increasing housing demand. To limit land consumption, Vienna has pursued long-term urban planning strategies, including densification and the redevelopment of former railway areas. A key tool is the municipal land fund and the developer competition, ensuring both quality and affordability in housing. Non-profit housing associations play a central role in the system, reinvesting profits into new housing and helping to maintain a stable rental market. Vienna has avoided privatizing its municipal housing stock, contributing to housing affordability. Long-term, low-interest public loans and financial redistribution mechanisms ensure the system‘s sustainability. This approach serves as a model for cities striving to uphold the right to housing in line with principles of social justice.
Affordable Housing in Vienna, by Patricie Taftová
The British weekly Economist has named Vienna the most liveable city in the world in its annual Global Liveability Ranking for the third time in a row. Among other things, affordability and the availability of quality housing played an important role in the ranking. So what makes Vienna different from other cities around the world? Let's take a trip back in time, specifically to the era of "Red Vienna", when the foundations for municipal construction were laid to answer this question. There we can find answers about the quality of housing and the amenities that still characterise living in Vienna today.
The City and Housing. What can Local Government do besides Construction itself? by Radka Loukotová
Twenty-eight thousand - that is the number of flats in the Brno city housing stock. Nevertheless, the affordability of housing in Brno is one of the most discussed topics both before and after the elections. Selling prices of real estate almost compete with Prague and the reduced availability of mortgages is driving rents up. The city is taking a several steps to reverse this trend.
New Linec Suburb – Centre of Social Services and Rental Housing in České Budějovice, by Petr Hornát
The article focuses on the construction project of the new Linec suburb in České Budějovice. The project is based on the need to expand the supply of rental flats and improve the availability of housing for the general public by converting a former hospital complex into a centre of social services and housing. The article describes the history of the site, preparatory work, design phases and expected benefits. The project will create more than 200 beds for the elderly and people with neurodegenerative diseases, rehabilitation and community spaces, and 140 housing units. The aim of the project is both to provide affordable housing and develop the city's infrastructure and improve the quality of life of the residents of České Budějovice.
Social Housing in Chomutov in 2022-2024, by Mária Šťastná
The town of Chomutov supports the satisfaction of the needs of its residents at risk of social exclusion or socially excluded by implementing projects focused on social housing. A high percentage of accommodated families can be stabilized thanks to a quality implementation team and intensive cooperation with the non-profit sector and other institutions. Foundations also play an important role in supporting this process. The impact on individual households is mainly in improving their psychological condition and gaining the security of housing. Children's school preparation and attendance tend to improve. Some clients also get jobs. On the other hand, the city is facing increased costs for repairs of social housing and dealing with rent arrears or underpayments.
Brno Has a Municipal Rental Agency albeit Rent Your Flat to the City of Brno, by Luboš Taranza
The Brno City Rental Agency, operated by the Centre for Social Services, is a service aimed at addressing the issue of housing needs. The agency aims to help people who have difficulty finding affordable housing on the regular market while offering private landlords guarantees and security when renting their properties. The main guarantees include guaranteed rent, property and client insurance, support for tenants, and maintenance of apartments. The agency also provides mediation services to maintain good neighbourly relations. The current agency's performance has been positively evaluated by both landlords and clients who have been able to be provided with stable housing. The agency's goal by the end of 2025 is to get 15 flats under management and to continue to expand its activities to assist people with housing needs.
