The first major conflict between the coalition of parties currently running Prague has centered around the residential market. The Pirate party, whose leader is currently the city’s mayor, has come under fire for its push to crack down on people who buy flats in Prague as investments, but who keep the units empty. The Pirates argue that given the difficulties in getting permits for new construction, it would help to use units that aren’t being used. The question is how to motivate them to do so (such as taxes), but the Pirates ran into trouble by proposing that data from the power companies be used to determine how many flats are actually unused. Lidove noviny writes that one of the biggest reasons people own flats but don’t rent them out are the current laws which can make it difficult for landlords to evict tenants, even if they aren’t paying the rent. It also claims that many flats, especially in the center, are being used as offices.
