Czech Republic faces housing shortage as lawmakers debate building code overhaul

In the Liberec region of the Czech Republic, officials say a lack of affordable apartments, high rents and lengthy permitting processes are deepening a housing crisis. A regional housing conference highlighted that 55% of municipalities consider rental‑housing capacity insufficient, while 58% want to expand it. Proposals to accelerate construction include the use of brick‑laying robots that can lay up to ten square metres per hour, design‑build contracts that combine planning and execution, and a renewed focus on cooperative housing financed by banks.

At the same time, Czech ombudsman Stanislav Křeček has warned that a draft amendment to the national building law, slated for discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, could undermine public interests. The proposal would ease approval of projects in protected zones, weaken anti‑illegal‑construction safeguards, relax noise and accessibility standards, and limit legal recourse against large‑scale developments. Křeček urges legislators to consider these shortcomings before the amendment takes effect on 1 July 2026.