The limited number of major attractions makes Bratislava boring city. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
Anyone who owns an apartment in Bratislava can rent their property to the city and contribute to making housing available to people who cannot afford to pay high rents.
Through its rental agency, the capital wants to introduce another way for Bratislava residents to gain access to affordable housing. Property owners only have to fill out the form here.
"We offer residents the opportunity to be socially responsible without any cost to them," says Sergej Kára, head of the municipality's social section. This is a common practice abroad, Bratislava taking inspiration from Prague.
Rent down by a third
The owners hand over the property to the city through the city's rental agency, which finds a suitable tenant and takes care of all obligations, free of charge. The owners do not even have to meet the tenants.
In an ideal situation, the agency would like to add at least one hundred apartments to the apartment fund by 2030. According to Kára, a more realistic goal is a few dozen apartments.
The main purpose is to provide affordable housing. The monthly rent would be approximately 20 to 30 percent lower than commercial rent.
In contrast to commercial real estate agents, the city agency is supposed to provide tenants with socio-psychological counselling and teach them how to take care of the apartment.
Housing will also be offered to those who have been discriminated against by the market for a long time, for example, the mothers of disadvantaged children or single mothers - whom, according to the Child Protection Act, apartment owners are not allowed to evict even if they do not pay rent. This often discourages owners and they choose less risky tenants instead.
The agency has been operating for over a year, but so far in pilot mode. It has provided help to 49 people, 17 of which were children. The Slovenská Sporiteľna Foundation has provided 10 apartments, the Bratislava Water Company 2 apartments, and a private person 1 apartment.
