Land Registry (katastr nemovitostí)

Why signing the contract doesn't make you the owner yet

When ownership of a flat recorded in the Land Registry is transferred, signing the purchase contract alone isn't enough. It's followed by an application for registration (návrh na vklad) and proceedings in which the cadastral office assesses whether the conditions for entry are met. If the office approves the entry, its legal effects apply retroactively from the moment the office received the application.

The office can approve the entry no sooner than twenty days after notifying the parties concerned. That doesn't mean every transaction will be completed within twenty days. Proceedings can drag on, and flawed documents may lead to an outcome the parties didn't expect.

Which details to compare

When looking for a flat, check the cadastral area, the unit designation, the owner and any pending proceedings. The cadastral map shows the location of registered buildings and plots. It won't show you the floor plan of the flat's rooms — for that you need a different document.

To give you an idea: a listing may give only the street and floor, but the purchase contract has to identify the property being transferred precisely. Clear up any discrepancy before you sign or pay. The Land Registry is no substitute for a viewing, a review of the documentation or an assessment of whether your intended use is permitted. Tie the handover date and the release of money from escrow to documented progress of the registration proceedings.