Property valuation

Property valuation is a regulated trade under Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). It covers estimating the value of movable and immovable property, intangible and financial assets and a business establishment. To notify it you must document professional qualification (specialised education or retraining, and for some options also practice), which for a regulated trade cannot be substituted by mere practice in the field.

Conditions for operating

General conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record.

For a regulated trade, the professional qualification is laid down directly in Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act and cannot be substituted by general practice (unlike a craft trade). The documents on professional qualification and the manner of their recognition are governed by Sections 6 to 8 and Section 24 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.

For the valuation of movable and immovable property (one of the following options):
1) university education in a study programme and study field focused on property valuation, or
2) university education and completion of lifelong learning of at least 4 semesters focused on property valuation, or
3) university, higher professional or secondary education with a school-leaving (maturita) examination and lifelong learning of at least 2 semesters focused on property valuation, or
4) university, higher professional or secondary education with a school-leaving (maturita) examination and post-maturita qualification study of at least 2 school years focused on property valuation, or
5) university, higher professional or secondary education with a school-leaving (maturita) examination and 2 years of practice in the field, or
6) a retraining certificate or other proof of professional qualification for the relevant work activity issued by an institution accredited under special legal regulations, or by an institution accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, or by a ministry within whose competence falls the sector in which the trade is operated, and 5 years of practice in the field.

For the valuation of intangible assets, financial assets and a business establishment (one of the following options):
a) university education in a study programme and study field focused on property valuation, or
b) university education and lifelong learning of at least 4 semesters focused on property valuation, or
c) university education and lifelong learning of at least 2 semesters focused on property valuation and 2 years of practice in the field.

Neither medical fitness nor mandatory liability insurance is required.

The professional qualification (and, where applicable, other conditions) may be met on the entrepreneur's behalf by an appointed responsible representative under Section 11. One person may perform this function for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

Examples of activities

Valuation of immovable property (land, buildings, flats and non-residential premises)
Valuation of movable property (machinery, equipment, vehicles, fittings)
Valuation of intangible assets (trademarks, patents, licences, software)
Valuation of financial assets (securities, receivables, shares)
Valuation of a business establishment or part thereof
Preparation of market value estimates for the purposes of sale, purchase or settlement
Drawing up documents on the value of assets for banks and insurers
Valuation of assets for accounting, tax and contribution purposes

What the trade is and what it is for

Property valuation is a regulated trade included in Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). Its subject is the expert determination of the value of assets, that is, the preparation of estimates and opinions on the price of things and values. The result serves as a basis in the sale and purchase, inheritance and property settlement, securing of a loan, insurance, contribution to a business company, and for accounting and tax purposes.

The trade licence for property valuation applies to five areas: movable property, immovable property, intangible assets, financial assets and a business establishment. When notifying the trade, you choose which of these areas you will perform, because the requirements for professional qualification differ for the individual areas.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

This trade covers in particular:

valuation of immovable property (land, buildings, flats and non-residential premises),
valuation of movable property (machinery, equipment, vehicles, stock, fittings),
valuation of intangible assets (trademarks, patents, licences, know-how, software),
valuation of financial assets (securities, shares, receivables) and a business establishment or part thereof.

This trade must be distinguished from the activity of a forensic expert under Act No. 254/2019 Coll., on experts, expert offices and expert institutes. An expert opinion for the needs of courts and public authorities may be prepared only by a registered expert; a trade licence does not in itself authorise this. Outside the trade regime there is also valuation governed by special regulations, for example expert institutes or valuation carried out under the Act on property valuation (No. 151/1997 Coll.) in reserved cases. If you need to resolve a borderline situation, contact the Trade Licensing Office.

Statutory conditions for obtaining the trade

The applicant must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act, that is, full legal capacity and a clean criminal record.

In addition, professional qualification is proved. For a regulated trade, the qualification is laid down directly in Annex 2 and cannot be substituted by general practice as with a craft trade. The documents on professional qualification and their recognition are governed by Sections 6 to 8 and Section 24 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.

For the valuation of movable and immovable property, one of these options is sufficient: 1) university education in a field focused on property valuation; 2) university education and lifelong learning of at least 4 semesters focused on valuation; 3) university, higher professional or secondary education with a maturita and lifelong learning of at least 2 semesters; 4) the same education and post-maturita qualification study of at least 2 school years; 5) university, higher professional or secondary education with a maturita and 2 years of practice in the field; 6) a retraining certificate (or other proof of qualification issued by an accredited institution) and 5 years of practice in the field.

For the valuation of intangible and financial assets and a business establishment, the following applies: a) university education focused on valuation; b) university education and lifelong learning of at least 4 semesters; c) university education and lifelong learning of at least 2 semesters and 2 years of practice in the field.

If you do not meet the professional qualification conditions yourself (typically in the case of a legal entity, or where you do business in a field for which you lack the qualification), you may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who will meet them on your behalf. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF) for notifying the trade.
Submit the notification in person at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or through a Czech POINT contact point.
Document the proof of professional qualification (diploma, certificate of lifelong learning or retraining, confirmation of practice) and pay the administrative fee.
The licence arises on the day of notification. The Trade Licensing Office makes the entry in the Trade Register usually within 5 working days and issues an extract.

You can find the detailed procedure in the guide how to start a trade.

Documents and fees

The Unified Registration Form (notification of the trade).
Proof of identity and, for a legal entity, proof of its formation.
Proof of professional qualification according to the chosen option (diploma, certificate, confirmation of practice).
Proof of appointment of a responsible representative, if one is appointed (Section 11).
An administrative fee of CZK 1,000 for notifying the trade, CZK 800 for electronic filing via rzp.gov.cz.

Frequently asked questions

Can I act as a forensic expert thanks to this trade?

No. The preparation of expert opinions for courts and state authorities is governed by Act No. 254/2019 Coll. and may be carried out only by a registered expert. The trade entitles you to valuation for private and commercial purposes.

Can missing education be substituted by practice alone?

Not for a regulated trade. Practice applies only as a supplement to a specific education option (e.g. secondary education with a maturita and 2 years of practice, or retraining and 5 years of practice). Practice alone, without corresponding education, is not enough.

What if I do not meet the professional qualification?

You may do business through a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the professional qualification and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

When can I start doing business?

The licence arises on the day of notification, provided all conditions are met. You do not have to wait for the entry in the register and the issue of the extract.

Do I need liability insurance or a medical certificate?

The Act does not require mandatory liability insurance or medical fitness for this trade. A clean criminal record is proved under Section 6.