Recent changes in social benefit conditions for migrants in the Czech Republic, which came into effect in July, have had profound implications for both refugees and their landlords, pushing many refugees into poverty and leaving landlords with financial burdens.

The story of a fifty-five-year-old landlord named Ivan in Prague illustrates the consequences faced by landlords who have provided housing for refugees. Ivan had invested in renovating and furnishing a one-bedroom apartment with a balcony, intending to rent it out for a monthly fee of at least thirteen thousand Czech koruna. He accommodated Elena from Kharkiv, Ukraine, and her ten-year-old daughter when a wave of refugees arrived in the Czech Republic following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Before July, the state provided a solidarity contribution of nine thousand Czech koruna to eligible refugees, which helped landlords like Ivan cover housing costs. However, the state abolished these solidarity contributions in July, replacing them with financial support for accommodation through humanitarian aid, which refugees then pass on to their landlords.

The new support for registered apartments amounted to three thousand Czech koruna per person, with a maximum of fifteen thousand Czech koruna. Elena, with her monthly income of eighteen thousand Czech koruna from working as a saleswoman, no longer qualified for these social benefits for local citizens, despite rents in Prague often exceeding her earnings.

Facing a difficult choice, Ivan and Elena renegotiated a monthly rental agreement of six thousand Czech koruna, leaving Ivan with a loss of seven thousand Czech koruna each month. Essentially, the state had shifted the responsibility of caring for refugees onto its citizens.

The situation highlights the challenges faced by landlords who have offered their properties to refugees, and the debate surrounding refugee assistance continues. Finding a sustainable solution that addresses the needs of refugees while ensuring a fair distribution of the burden remains a pressing issue as the humanitarian crisis unfolds.

Article by Prague Forum