Tomáš Portlík proposes housing reforms for Prague

Tomáš Portlík, the SPOLU coalition candidate for Mayor of Prague, has outlined a strategy to address the city's housing affordability crisis. He noted that even individuals with above-average salaries are increasingly unable to afford housing in the capital.

Portlík proposes increasing the housing supply through expanded construction, faster permitting processes, and the utilization of municipal land. He criticized the current imbalance between the length of the permitting process and actual construction time, suggesting that artificial intelligence could assist officials in processing extensive documentation to accelerate these procedures.

Additionally, Portlík suggested that the city should collaborate more closely with private investors and banks. He also proposed that Prague retain a portion of municipal housing specifically for essential public service workers, such as teachers, whose salaries do not reflect the higher cost of living in the capital compared to other regions. He dismissed the idea that short-term rentals like Airbnb are a primary driver of the crisis, stating they account for less than one percent of the market.