Frequently asked questions
When was the ÚZSVM established?
The ÚZSVM was effectively established on the date set by Act No. 201/2002, the Act on the Office of the Government Representation in Property Affairs, i.e. on July 1st, 2002. It is an organizational body of the state. It falls under the budgetary chapter of the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic.
What are the main activities of the ÚZSVM?
The main tasks are:
1. To represent the state in court proceedings, arbitration committees, administrative proceedings, etc.
2. To manage and protect state property the state and to transfer any unneeded state property.
3. To manage the optimal deployment of state offices.
What are the territorial competences of the ÚZSVM?
According to the respective legislation, the rights and obligations of the ÚZSVM are executed by its 8 regional offices. The headquarters of the ÚZSVM is in the capital city of Prague, together with the Regional office for Prague and Central Bohemia. The remaining 7 regional offices are based in other cities. The regional offices of the ÚZSVM are further sub-divided into 44 district offices, thus covering the entire territory of the Czech Republic.
What legal services does the ÚZSVM provide?
The ÚZSVM acts for other government bodies in court hearings and similar proceedings regarding proprietary rights of the state, financial claims, business transactions, and complaints lodged with the Constitutional Court. The ÚZSVM acts at Czech courts, at court hearings abroad, and at international court hearings. The ÚZSVM brings suits and acts in court hearings regarding ownership, validity of contracts on property transfers, unjust enrichment at the expense of the state, etc. The ÚZSVM acts for other government bodies in property-related cases on the basis of a contract, acting as a secondary participant in civil court hearings where property of a state organization is involved and where a legal interest of the state exists, or acting as a participant in civil court hearings regarding the validity of contracts on property transfers between non-state organizations where a justified property interest of the state exists.
What is the portfolio of the ÚZSVM?
The ÚZSVM has in its portfolio more than one hundred thousand state-owned real estates of the total value in the order of billions of Czech crowns. More than 96 % of the real estate is land plots. The ÚZSVM also has in its portfolio state-owned movables, securities and shares of companies and housing cooperatives. The portfolio of the ÚZSVM has thousands of inflows and outflows of immovable property items each year as a result of the ÚZSVM activities in acquisition and transfers/sales of the property.
Where information on public sale of property can be found?
The ÚZSVM has to offer any unneeded property to other organizational bodies of the state, and if they are not interested, the property is considered to be unnecessary to the state and is then offered for transfer to non-state entities. Such property is in most cases offered in a public tender. The public tenders are published on the website www.nabidkamajetku.cz.
Are there any special restrictions or requirements as to foreign bidders for state property?
No, there are no restrictions for foreigners participating in a public tender for the sale of state property. Foreign bidders have to meet the same criteria as Czech nationals. However, all offers and related documents (Auction notice, Purchase contract, etc.) are published only in Czech language.
How does the ÚZSVM proceed in the administration of non-state property?
The ÚZSVM is authorized to administer any property seized during criminal proceedings. The property is confiscated by the state in cases when the accused is found guilty; otherwise the ÚZSVM has to return the seized property to the person in question. For the ÚZSVM, this means not only storing the secured movable property, but also maintaining any real estate.
What does the term escheat mean?
This term refers to property of deceased persons without any legal or testamentary heirs. Court commissioners investigate whether there are any legal or testamentary heirs alive. If no heirs are found, the state is asked to intervene. If the property is forfeit to the state, the ÚZSVM offers the property to other state bodies and if it is not needed by the state, the ÚZSVM puts it up for sale.