Leases During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Temporary Ban on Unilateral Termination of Leases by Landlords

On 22 April 2020, the Slovak parliament approved an amendment to Act No. 62/2020 Coll., introducing a temporary suspension of the landlord’s right to terminate a lease. Although this measure is often referred to as a three-month rent suspension, the amendment brought de facto only a temporary suspension of the landlord’s right to terminate a lease due to the tenant’s default with the timely payment of rent. The measure was effective as of 25 April 2020.

The landlord now cannot unilaterally terminate real estate leases, including residential and non-residential leases, due to the tenant’s default with the timely payment of rent and payment for usual lease-related services, if:

• The default rent is due between 1 April 2020 and the end of June 2020
• The reason for the default is related to the COVID-19 pandemic

The landlord’s right to unilaterally terminate the real estate lease is suspended until the end of December 2020.