The Czech Chamber of Deputies has passed the Housing Support Act, a measure aimed at addressing housing distress in the country. Experts from the initiative For Housing—which includes representatives from NGOs, social services, academia, and local government—have welcomed the law’s adoption but expressed concern that it falls short of earlier, more ambitious proposals. The bill, originally prepared by the Ministry of Regional Development under former minister Ivan Bartoš (Pirates), underwent several changes after the Pirates left the government. Bartoš criticised the final version, calling it inadequate and significantly watered down from the original draft. Mikoláš Opletal of For Housing emphasized the importance of passing the law during the current parliamentary term. He said the legislation provides a framework to support people at risk of housing exclusion and could help prevent exploitative practices in the housing market. The act introduces several new tools, including the establishment of contact points to offer housing-related counselling, a voluntary system of housing guarantees for private landlords, and financial incentives for municipalities that rent to people in housing distress. The goal is to create a more coordinated approach between national and local levels in addressing housing challenges. However, the bill has faced criticism from opposition parties ANO and SPD, which argue that it creates an expensive and complex bureaucracy without adding new housing units. Some local officials support the bill. Kateřina Dobrozemská, Deputy Mayor of Olomouc, said the law offers municipalities useful tools for preventing housing loss. She also highlighted the need to encourage private landlords to make vacant apartments available for rent. Originally, the bill proposed that 205 municipalities with extended jurisdiction would host contact points, creating 352 new positions with an estimated cost of CZK 348 million. However, following amendments by the parliamentary committee on public administration, the number of contact points was reduced to 115, to be located in areas with higher housing vulnerability and existing labor office branches. Municipalities will have the option to establish these contact points on a voluntary basis. Bartoš criticised the final version on social media, claiming it had been stripped of key elements and would no longer deliver the projected cost savings. He argued the coalition had taken a short-term view and failed to prioritise long-term benefits for vulnerable populations. Opponents of the law argue that it introduces new administrative layers without addressing core issues such as housing supply. They believe the initiative may result in inefficiencies and be open to misuse. An amendment introduced by MP Jiří Havránek (ODS) extended eligibility for support to households earning up to 1.43 times the subsistence minimum. The For Housing initiative had previously warned this threshold was too restrictive. Regional Development Minister Petr Kulhánek (STAN) later announced that the government intends to raise the limit to 1.6 times the minimum, which the law allows through a government decision. Martin Lux, a housing expert at the Czech Academy of Sciences, supported the law, describing it as a long-overdue step forward. He acknowledged that while some parameters might need adjustment, these can be modified by the government over time. He said the law lays a necessary foundation for addressing both acute and long-term housing needs. Source: CTK