As with many European countries Slovakia has a similar process when it comes to buying a property there. As a new EU member the property market of Slovakia is open to all other citizens of EU. The only restriction Slovakia has imposed is on agricultural and forestry land.

The process of buying is simple. Once you have picked the property you want to purchase and the seller accepted the price, a deposit payment will be required to secure the property. The value of deposit payment can vary and depends on the seller's requirements

Before you deposit the required payment onto Slovakia Property's deposit account we will request you to sign and return our reservation agreement. You will have 14 days to change your mind at which stage we will refund you your full deposit payment less £50 cancellation fee. Please be aware that once the 14 days period elapses we will not be able to refund your deposit payment.

If you are happy to go ahead with the purchase process we will send you our agency agreement where all costs will be set and agreed. We will keep you informed of any additional costs which might be incurred through your purchase process. Once the contracts are signed by both parties and price is settled in full, you will then receive a notification from Cadastral office that the property title has been transferred to your name. When you receive your title deeds we will assist you in transferring the utilities and registering your property with the local council for annual property tax.

Mortgages

Slovak banks require the following documentation when purchasing Slovak property either as a foreign individual or Slovak national.

• Proof of address
• Passport
• 6 months recent bank statements
• Proof of income (form provided in English)
• Proof of employment abroad (Only full time employment will be considered)
• If you are self-employed you will need to provide at least two years tax returns and accounts, it is also recommended you have a guarantor for the mortgage.

Each client is assessed by the chosen bank individually. We have teamed up with a reputable UK based mortgage broker whom have an extensive database of mortgage offers and offer a professional and efficient approach to client's requirements. To get pre-approved for a mortgage in Slovakia contact us.

 

Other useful information

The cadastre holds all the relevant information about the legal state of the property. If there are any legal disputes the registry will hold all that information. Currently all Slovak agencies ask the seller to provide this paper before they want to sell their property. This can not be older than 3 months so you can be pretty sure the property you acquired is not undergoing any legal disputes.

When purchasing an apartment there is a monthly fee called 'najomne' which usually covers the use of water supply and hot water and heating usage, as well as other minor expenses such as communal electricity usage and lift usage etc. The newly build apartments have separate central heating systems to allow owners to control the costs direct The electricity is provided by the national Slovak electricity company and the gas is through Slovenske plynarne Gas Company.

If you are planning to renovate a flat, it is always advisable to apply for permission before any work has started. We can advise you further if you are interested in renovation. Alternatively contact one of our preferred renovation partners from the services offered.