Risks and legal situations

Plomba in the land register (plomba v katastru)

In Czech: Plomba v katastru

A plomba in the land register is the informal name for a note that proceedings affecting the registered rights are under way, typically an entry after a sale. The law calls it marking that the rights are affected by a change.

Also called: plomba, cadastre seal, práva dotčena změnou

What it means

When the cadastral office (katastrální úřad) receives an application for an entry, for example for registering ownership after a sale (vklad), it marks the affected properties to show that the rights are affected by a change. In practice this mark is called a plomba, or plomba v katastru. The word plomba itself does not appear in the law.

A plomba is not a problem in itself. It simply says that proceedings concerning the property are under way and that the details on the title deed (list vlastnictví) may soon change.

How it works in the Czech Republic

Under § 9(1) of the Cadastral Act (katastrální zákon), the office marks that the rights are affected by a change (in practice, the plomba) no later than the following working day, and under § 16(1) it informs the owner about the proceedings. The entry can be approved no earlier than 20 days after this information was sent (§ 18(1)).

On a transfer, ownership is acquired by entry into the land register (§ 1105 of the Civil Code), but the entry has legal effect from the moment the application reached the cadastral office (§ 10 of the Cadastral Act). The plomba therefore shows anyone who opens the title deed that an application has already been filed.

The administrative fee for an application for entry is CZK 2,000 (as of October 2026). You can follow the status of the proceedings by their number on nahlizenidokatastru.cz.

Practical example

For example, buyer and seller sign a purchase agreement for a flat and the application is filed on Monday. By Tuesday at the latest a plomba appears on the flat. The seller receives information from the office, and the entry can be approved no earlier than 20 days after it was sent. Money held in escrow is then usually released only after the entry is made, according to the escrow terms.

What to watch out for

  • Before signing, check whether the property already has a plomba and find out which proceedings it relates to.
  • Have the purchase price released from escrow only after the entry is made, not just after the plomba appears.
  • If, as an owner, you receive information about proceedings you know nothing about, contact the cadastral office at once.
  • Track the proceedings by their number on nahlizenidokatastru.cz.
  • Do not confuse a plomba with a lien or an enforcement note; those are separate entries.

Frequently asked questions

What does a plomba on a title deed mean?

That proceedings concerning the property are under way at the cadastral office. Until they end, the registered details may change.

How long does a plomba last?

Until the proceedings end. An entry can be approved no earlier than 20 days after the owner was informed; the total time depends on the case.

Is a plomba a reason not to buy?

Not in itself. Find out which proceedings it relates to and decide based on that.

  • Entry into the land register (vklad do katastru)Entry into the land register (vklad do katastru nemovitostí) is the registration of ownership or another property right in the land register based on a contract. Only this entry makes the buyer the owner, with effect from the day of filing.
  • Title deed (list vlastnictví)A title deed (list vlastnictví, LV) is the land register sheet that shows, for one cadastral area, who owns which properties and what burdens them, such as mortgages, easements or a pending change of ownership.
  • Acquisition of ownership (nabytí vlastnického práva)Acquisition of ownership (nabytí vlastnického práva) is the moment a person becomes the owner of a property. When buying property recorded in the land register, it happens on entry in the register, not on signing or paying.
  • Purchase price escrow (úschova kupní ceny)Purchase price escrow (úschova kupní ceny) means the buyer deposits the money for a property with a lawyer, notary or bank, who pays it to the seller only when agreed conditions are met, usually once the buyer is in the land register.
  • Land register (katastr nemovitostí)The land register (katastr nemovitostí) is the Czech public register of land, buildings and units and of the rights attached to them, such as ownership, mortgages and easements. It is run by ČÚZK through regional cadastral offices.
  • Enforcement against a property (exekuce)Enforcement against a property (exekuce) is the forced recovery of a debt in which a court bailiff targets the debtor's house, flat or land. Once it starts, the owner may not freely dispose of the property, and it may be sold.

Sources

Laws and official pages this text is based on (in Czech).

This text is for information only and has not yet been checked by a legal or financial expert. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Verify important details in the listed sources or with a professional.

Updated 25 October 2026

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