Slovakia Property Contracts
If an owner of an apartment in Slovakia hires a real estate agent to rent his or her property, it is the agent’s responsibility to handle the entire transaction, including the paperwork. The local agent should also advise the prospective landlord about the taxes that are applicable while renting a property. On the other hand if the owner does not want to rent out the property through an agent, he or she should verify the person to whom the apartment is being rented, and also check the contract thoroughly, which both the parties are going to sign.
The key points in a Slovakian real estate contract include the rental price, the conditions and period of the agreement, mode of payment, dates, and protection against damages to the property. While renting out a property, landlords in Slovakia should make sure that they get contract documents prepared from a lawyer, since there are several issues that can cause problems while renting an apartment, even though it is administratively easier than selling a property.
Since the rental agreement is an important document for both, the landlord and the tenant, it has to include some particular items. Slovakia’s public administration website particularly mentions that the contract must include a clear description of the property to be rented, its location, a clear statement of the monthly rent, a detailed description of the fixed equipment inside the apartment, and the condition of the flat. A Slovakian property contract should include a list of all furnishings, in case the apartment is furnished.
The contract should also include the rights and obligations of the landlord and the tenant in detail. In the rental contract the landlord is responsible for renting the flat in a suitable living condition. Usually it is the responsibility of the tenant in Slovakia to do small repairs caused by regular use of the apartment, and fix any damages caused by him or her, or pay the landlord for repairing the damages. According to the contract the tenant is generally not allowed to make any adjustments that would change the existing structure of the apartment, or make any significant change without the permission of the landlord.
The real estate contract in Slovakia also includes conditions to terminate the contract for both the parties, including the required notice period. A notice of three months is required by law in case the notice period is not specified in the contract. The notice period starts on the first day of the month following the month in which the termination notice is delivered. If the landlord terminates the contract for failure to pay rent, the Slovakian Civil Code prolongs this period to six months on the day when termination notice is delivered, wherein the tenant can prove that he or she is in material need, based on objective reasons.