FAQ: Renting an apartment in Slovakia

The Slovak Spectator brings you the set of the most frequently asked questions with regard to renting an apartment in Slovakia.

(Source: Ján Krošlák)

Martin Meliško from CE Invest, Martin Bečar of Harrys, and Directreal kindly helped us answer questions.

Read also more in our section: Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need approval from my landlord in order to record my permanent address in the apartment that I am renting?
Q: How do I get hold of the deed of ownership?

Q: What if the owner of the property I am renting is not in Slovakia?

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Related article Real estate prices in Slovakia Read more 

Q: I am renting an apartment and I have a problem with my neighbours. Should I let my landlord know? Is my landlord obliged to help me?
Q: Someone broke into the apartment that I am renting. Do I have to pay for the things that were broken or stolen, or is it to be paid by the landlord?

Q: I want to sublet my apartment while I am not in Slovakia. Do I need to report anywhere? Are there any legal or tax duties connected with that?
Q: I want to share my apartment for short-term stays with tourists. Do I need to report that anywhere?
Q: Do I have to pay taxes from short-term renting?

SkryťTurn off ads

Do you have more questions about renting an apartment? Please let us know at spectator@spectator.sk.

Q: Do I need approval from my landlord in order to record my permanent address in the apartment that I am renting?
A:
Yes, you need the approval of the property owner, your landlord, to be able to state the address of the property as your official address. Your landlord can come in person to state their approval or can give it to you in writing.

Please note that the landlord's signature on the document needs to be verified by the notary public office. You will also need the deed of ownership, which cannot be older than three months, to prove that the landlord who signed the document actually owns the property.

Q: How do I get hold of the deed of ownership?
A: It can be obtained at any cadastre office. If your property is in Bratislava, you can obtain it at Ružová dolina 27, 821 09 Bratislava district II. Please be aware that you might need more than one hour to get such a document because of long waiting lines, especially at the Bratislava office. The deed of ownership can be also collected at a post office. The fee for collecting it is €8.

SkryťTurn off ads

Q: What if the owner of the property I am renting is not in Slovakia?
A: The owner of the property can provide power of attorney to another person, who can represent the real owner and sign on their behalf. In such cases, a verified power of attorney, along with the notarised signature of the landlord on the rental contract, have to be provided.

Q: I am renting an apartment, and I have a problem with my neighbours. Should I let my landlord know? Is my landlord obliged to help me?
A:
First, you should speak directly to the neighbour to try to reach an agreement or compromise. If the situation persists, you should talk to the owner of the apartment, who might have more influence on the neighbour. If the noise at night is made by students, you can often place your complaint to the parents. If problems persist, you can turn to the municipal police or the municipal office.

Q: Someone broke into the apartment that I am renting. Do I have to pay for the things that were broken or stolen, or is it paid by the landlord?

A: Under the duration of a rental contract, the tenant is fully responsible for the equipment of the flat, even if it is damaged or stolen. Therefore it is crucial to have a signed insurance contract that covers damages that might occur not only to the building itself, but also to equipment and personal belongings found in the flat. Such insurance often covers furniture and electronic equipment, as well as personal belongings. Luxury items and art, or even cash, can be usually insured with an extra fee.

Q: I want to sublet my apartment while I am not in Slovakia. Do I need to report anywhere? Are there any legal or tax duties connected with that?
A:
If you are renting out an apartment as a private person, first you need to find out if you are entitled to sublet the property which you are renting. Usually rental agreements do not entitle you to sublet, unless you have written confirmation from your landlord. In such cases, if you do sublet, even for a short period of time, you should register yourself as a landlord with the tax authority office.

The office will issue a card with your tax ID number (DIC) that is delivered by post within a few weeks. If your total rental income does not exceed €2,289.63 (this is a number based on data from 2022 and is regularly updated by the tax authorities), you will not have to pay taxes on this income.

In such a case, you will only need to submit a statement that the rental revenue for a particular year has not exceeded this amount. The income can be offset by expenses connected to the rental of the apartment, such as agency commission, renovation and other expenses that are directly connected to the rental of the apartment.

Read also: Fight for money from Airb’n’b has started in Slovakia, too Read more 

Q: I want to share my apartment for short-term stays with tourists. Do I need to report that anywhere?
A:
If you are closing a rental contract with a tourist, you do not need to report this short-term rent to the tax authorities. However, renting your apartment this way is a business activity (running an accommodation facility) and, as such, requires that you have a business licence. It is important that you have the right type of contract, which also defines the services that you provide to the tenant.

Q: Do I have to pay taxes from short-term renting?
A:
Yes, if you are renting an apartment based on a contract for short-term rental, and not based on your business licence, your income is taxable and needs to be reported on your tax return. If your total rental income does not exceed €2,289.63 (this is a number based on data from 2022 and is regularly updated by the tax authorities), you will not have to pay taxes on this revenue.

Martin Meliško from CE Invest, Martin Bečar of Harrys, and Directreal kindly helped us answer questions.

This section is sponsored by CE Invest, which provides services such as property management, rentals, sales and renovations.

Top stories

The New Stations of the Cross combine old and new.

New Stations of the Cross to combine surviving remains and contemporary architecture.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad