Property and title deed review

In Czechia, every property is recorded in the katastr nemovitostí, the national Land Registry. The extract for a property is called the list vlastnictví (LV), which translates as "ownership sheet". It shows who owns the property and what rights and restrictions apply to it. It is the first document any lender looks at. It should be the first one you look at too. If you understand it, you know before the lender does what might complicate financing.

The title deed review is the first step in all our services. We also offer it on its own, for example when you simply want to know where you stand before deciding anything. It is especially useful if you are not a native Czech speaker, because the LV is only issued in Czech and uses specific legal terms. We work only with businesses that have a Czech company ID (IČO).

What we look for on the title deed

The LV has several parts. In our review we focus mainly on:

• the owner, meaning who owns the property and in what share,
• the property description, meaning which plots and buildings belong to it and how they are recorded,
• pledges (zástavní právo), the Czech equivalent of a mortgage charge, and who holds them,
• easements (věcné břemeno), such as rights of way, utility lines or a lifetime right of residence,
• enforcement and insolvency entries,
• pre-emption rights and bans on sale or encumbrance,
• a plomba, meaning a pending proceeding at the Land Registry.

For every entry, we explain what it means and how it might affect financing.

How it works with us

We understand what you need

Some people just want to understand the entries. Others need to know whether the property can support a loan. We tailor the review accordingly.

We obtain current documents

We download a current LV from the Land Registry. We also check the company in public registers: ARES (the Czech business register), the insolvency register and the VAT register. Where an entry requires it, we look at the underlying documents it was based on.

We explain the result in plain English

We go through the outcome with you calmly and clearly. We tell you what is fine, what needs sorting out and what could be an obstacle.

We recommend the next step

Sometimes it is enough to wait for a proceeding to finish. Sometimes an old pledge or easement needs to be resolved. Where it makes sense, we can follow up with financing.

Why do it before applying for financing

Many applications stall on issues that could have been fixed in advance. An old pledge for a loan repaid long ago, where nobody requested removal. An easement the owner did not know about. A mismatch between the registry and reality, such as an unregistered extension. A plomba that stops a lender from going ahead.

If you know about these things early, you can start dealing with them in time. You then go into talks with a lender prepared, with a clear idea of what is realistic. You save yourself time and disappointment.

What affects the cost

The first consultation is free. If the review needs more work, the cost depends mainly on:

• the number of properties and title deeds,
• how complex the entries are, for example the number of pledges or co-owners,
• whether documents need to be retrieved from the registry's document archive,
• whether you need a written summary, and in which language.

We always state the price in advance. Land Registry fees for extracts and documents are charged separately.

Risks and limitations

We want to be honest about the review too:

• Things can change. The LV shows the status at a given moment. A current extract is always needed before signing any contract.
• Not everything is on the LV. Some leases or environmental burdens, for instance, do not appear there. That is why we also ask about other circumstances.
• It is not legal advice. Our review is advisory and focused on financing. For complex matters we recommend a lawyer.
• It is not a valuation. Market value is set by a valuer or expert.

Documents to prepare

• your IČO and basic company details,
• the LV number and cadastral area (katastrální území), or at least the property address,
• agreements relating to pledges or loans, if you have them,
• information about any proceedings you know are under way,
• any lease agreements on the property.

You do not need to track anything down yourself. Just tell us which property it is, and we will find out the rest.