The fees for registering rights in the land register will increase

Prague - Fees for registering rights in the land registry will generally increase significantly. For example, in the case of transferring family homes with gardens, the fee will amount to 1500 crowns, which is three times more than before. The current rate of 500 crowns will remain unchanged for the registration of one plot or building. However, for multiple properties to which the registration of rights is proposed, the fee will newly be multiplied by their number. The change in fees was approved today by the government at the suggestion of Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič.
    Higher revenues, which the amendment will bring to the budget, are intended to be a source of funding for faster digitization of the land registry, which, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, is currently progressing too slowly. At present, digitized cadastral maps cover one-third of the territory of the republic. "If digitization were to continue at the current pace, it would take at least another 20 years," stated the Ministry of Agriculture, which aims to finish the conversion of cadastral maps to digital form by 2015.
    "The slow progress in digitizing the land registry complicates not only the work of land registry offices but also limits everyone who uses this data - primarily regions, municipalities, utility network managers, the real estate sector, and others," said Gandalovič. Conversely, the easy accessibility of digital land registry data, according to him, will support investment and the development of the real estate market. This is reportedly expected to significantly shorten the waiting time for registration in the land registry.
    An essential condition for significantly accelerating digitization, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, is the staffing reinforcement of the land registry offices, which means costs.
    According to the ministry, the fee for registering rights in the land registry at 500 crowns is among the lowest in Europe and has not increased since 1994. For example, neighboring Slovakia has adjusted fees upwards twice in recent years and charges an average of 2000 Slovak crowns for registration, the office noted. According to Gandalovič, there will also be a maximum fee amount set for certain types of transfers, which will apply, for example, to farmers transferring multiple parcels at once.