Ombudsman is receiving an increasing number of complaints from building authorities regarding digitalization, requesting a remedy

Brno/Prague – The Public Defender of Rights has received an increasing number of complaints from building authorities, which are struggling with issues related to the digitization of building proceedings. They complain about ongoing problems and the non-functionality of the information system for building proceedings. Therefore, the Ombudsman has turned to the Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš, requesting a remedy. The Office of the Public Defender of Rights informed about this today on the website. The ministry stated that it is aware of the complaints from the municipalities and plans to gradually simplify and speed up the work in the information system.

According to the building authorities, the new information system does not speed up the work but rather prolongs it. "One of the most serious objections repeated in the responses from building authorities is that the new system slows down the work of officials instead of simplifying and speeding it up," stated Ombudsman Stanislav Křeček.

Building authorities point out errors in the Builder’s Portal, which is the entry point for communication between builders and authorities, and the information system for building proceedings, which is used by officials to process builders' applications. Not all data provided in the builder's application is transferred from the Builder’s Portal to the information system. According to the Ombudsman, this can cause serious problems. Due to the malfunctioning module for concerned authorities, there is a risk of creating so-called fictitious binding opinions. That is, a situation where, due to the non-issuance of a binding opinion within the stipulated deadline, it is assumed that the concerned authority has issued a favorable opinion on the construction without conditions.

Therefore, the Ombudsman has turned to the Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates), who is also the Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization. "I am interested in what steps his ministry will take to remedy the situation," explained the Ombudsman. In connection with the effectiveness of the new building law, the Ombudsman is also preparing for an increased number of builders’ complaints.

The ministry stated today in response to ČTK that these complaints had already been submitted to Minister Bartoš by representatives of local authorities in earlier personal meetings. "The plan for further development assumes that work in the Information System for Building Proceedings will be gradually simplified and sped up," stated ministry spokesperson Petr Waleczko. He added that the minister would officially respond to the Ombudsman within the requested timeframe.

Since the beginning of July, city authorities, some builders, and professional associations and chambers have been complaining about issues with the digitization of building proceedings. According to some estimates, problems with the digitization of building proceedings could result in billion-dollar losses. The Ministry for Regional Development is currently addressing the comments. In recent days, representatives of the ministry have met with members of the Czech Chamber of Architects, the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians in Construction, the Association of Secretaries of Municipal and City Offices, and representatives of the coalition movement STAN.