The new formula with an estimated rate of 0.05%–0.1% will be based on special price maps and algorithms. For example, two apartments of the same size in the center of Bratislava and in a small town will now be taxed differently. In practice, this means that the annual payment for a standard two-room apartment in Bratislava could increase from the current 60–80 euros to 200 euros or more.
This innovation carries serious social risks, as not only investors but also ordinary people who have lived in a good area of the city for a long time, but whose incomes have not kept up with the "paper" increase in the price of their housing, will be affected. The reform is expected to trigger another jump in rental prices, as owners will try to cover their tax expenses.
Currently, Slovakia remains the country with the least affordable housing in the EU – the average resident needs to work for more than 13 years to save up for their own home. The reform could further widen this gap, forcing buyers to pay attention not only to the area but also to the energy efficiency of buildings to minimize future costs.
