On 9 April 2026, the Czech Supreme Court issued a ruling (case no. 24 Cdo 81/2026) which may significantly alter current practice regarding real estate transfers. The court held that a real estate purchase agreement is valid and eligible for registration in the Land Register even if the parties do not expressly state a specific purchase price. It is sufficient for the agreement to make it clear that the transfer is for consideration and that both parties have knowingly and expressly chose to proceed without agreeing on a specific price.
Until now, land registry offices have often refused to register real estate transfers based on contracts that do not specify a purchase price, or at least a specific mechanism for determining the purchase price. Under the new interpretation, however, it will suffice for two basic conditions to be met: (i) the contract must be in writing; and (ii) it must explicitly and unambiguously state that both parties are knowingly entering into a purchase agreement without specifying a specific purchase price. It also remains possible to specify only the mechanism for determining the purchase price or to express the purchase price by stating an amount. However, mere silence on the price will not be sufficient.