2020

Legal protection afforded to residential tenants during the corona crisis extended

With the New Year fast approaching and given that the "statutory deferral" of residential rents – introduced in the spring of 2020 in the wake of the exceptional circumstances triggered by the coronavirus – was due to expire on 31 December 2020, the legislator has now adopted an amendment to the 2nd COVID-19 Judiciary Accompanying Act.

Letting of Airbnb apartments in Hungary – New regulation expected for spring 2021

After ten years, the national government has decided to regulate the Airbnb segment more strictly, which could force the hand of many investors and the owners of apartments purchased with the Airbnb model in mind (e.g. compel them to sell their properties).

Amendments regarding the legal status of agricultural land in Romania – new conditions in case of sale of agricultural land (located outside a built-up area)

On 13 October 2020, the Law no. 175/2020 amending and completing the Law No. 17/2014 ("Law 17/2014") on the sale and purchase of agricultural land in Romania located outside a built-up area (in Romanian: extravilan) came into force.

Hungarian construction industry to repeat 2018 performance

The revenue of the Hungarian construction industry could be as high as HUF 4,000 billion this year, which means that it will fall short of last year’s performance (HUF 4,400 billion) and match the 2018 figure, said László Koji, the Chairman of the Hungarian National Association of Construction Contractors, in a TV interview last Friday.

Breaking News: Extension of the Protective Shield for Tenants planned

In spring 2020, the legislature put a protective shield over apartment tenants to prevent the Corona crisis from also having a negative impact on the housing situation of affected tenants. Since some of the measures taken - for example the statutory deferral of rental fees - expire at the end of 2020, the Minister of Justice announced today, December 2nd, 2020, that this period will be extended to March 31, 2021.

Effect of default on the disbursement of escrow funds

It is common practice for transactions relating to the purchase of real estate to be conducted by an escrow agent. In the case of multilateral trusts, one escrow agent administers the trust established by several trustors who may have opposing interests.

First decision of a Vienna District Court on Section 1104 of the Civil Code in connection with COVID-19

The District Court of Meidling in Vienna has become the first court to rule on the obligation of a commercial tenant to pay rent during the lockdown in the spring of 2020.

Hotel lease agreements in Hungary

Due to the serious financial losses, various hotel lessees are currently approaching their lessors with a request for the deferral or abatement of rent payments.

COVID Rent Programme

The Czech government will help businesses affected by the COVID-19 measures cover their rent payments.

Legal protection for residential tenants during the Corona crisis

To protect residential tenants during the Corona Crises from negative effects the legislator has provisioned special legal amendments.