Moving in a Slovak panelák: lifts, stairs and parking on housing estates

If you rent a flat in Košice or Prešov, there's a good chance it's in a panelák – one of the prefabricated concrete apartment blocks built mainly between the 1960s and 1980s. Whole districts are made of them: KVP, Terasa, Furča, Nad jazerom and Ťahanovce in Košice; Sekčov, Sídlisko III, Šváby and Táborisko in Prešov. Most of the moves we do start or finish in one. Paneláky are practical and affordable, but they come with their own moving challenges: small lifts, narrow stairwells, crowded car parks and neighbours heading off to work. Here's how moving in a panelák works, what moving without a lift costs and how to prepare.

Why housing-estate moves are different

At a family house, the van backs up to the door and everything travels a few metres. In a panelák, every box and wardrobe makes the full journey: flat → corridor → lift or stairs → entrance → pavement → van. Any of those stages can slow things down, and because movers charge by the hour (€40⁠–⁠75 depending on crew size), every slowdown shows up on the bill. The good news: almost every complication can be solved with a little preparation a day or two beforehand.

Moving without a lift: what it costs

We charge €10 per floor for using the stairs, plus the extra time it takes – carrying by stairs is slower and harder work. Indicatively, for a two-bedroom flat:

Indicative values for a packed two-bedroom flat. Prices exclude VAT. Full rates are in our price list. Note that Slovak floors are counted from the ground floor (prízemie), so "1st floor" is one flight up.

On higher floors without a lift we recommend a three-person crew. Movers can rotate, stay fresher and finish faster – so the total is often similar to a two-person crew.

Small lifts: what fits and what doesn't

Older four-person lifts are narrow and low. Boxes, chairs, small chests of drawers and dismantled beds go down without trouble. Some items almost always take the stairs:

Measure the lift cabin and doors in advance and include them when you book – we'll plan what to dismantle and how many people to send.

Parking the van by the entrance

Parking is the most common cause of delays on housing estates. Every 50 metres between van and door adds tens of minutes when you're carrying dozens of boxes. What works:

• Hold a space with your own car and move it when the van arrives.
• Ask the neighbours – a note on the board asking them to leave two or three spaces free that morning.
• Pick the right time – estate car parks are usually emptier on weekday mornings than in the evening or at weekends.
• In the city centre of Košice or Prešov, check early with the relevant office about temporarily reserving a parking space. Procedures, fees and lead times are set by the city or district and can take several days.

Protecting the lift, stairwell and neighbour relations

Common areas belong to everyone in the building. To avoid damage and disputes we wrap furniture in blankets and protect corners with cardboard, use straps and trolleys so nothing is dragged, take care around door frames, banisters and mailboxes, and never block the lift longer than necessary.

On your side, tell the building manager (správca) two or three days ahead and ask about the house rules (domový poriadok). Some buildings have rules for using the lift during moves or require the cabin to be protected. Quiet hours usually run overnight, so plan your timing accordingly. A short note on the board – even in English with a Slovak line from a translation app – prevents most misunderstandings.

Cellars, balconies and shared spaces

Things outside the flat are the most commonly forgotten. Panelák flats usually come with a cellar cubicle (pivnica) that fills up with bikes, winter tyres and old furniture, and balconies collect plant pots and drying racks. If they're coming with you, include them when booking – the cellar often means another trip through narrow corridors. If you're renting, remember to return keys to the cellar, mailbox and shared rooms when you hand the flat back.

What to tell us when you book

Moving into a new build

Alongside the classic estates, Košice and Prešov have a growing number of new apartment buildings. They have roomy lifts and underground garages, but bring their own challenges: unfinished access roads, garage entrances too low for a van, and strict developer or building-manager rules about moves and protecting new common areas. Before moving day, check where the van can stop, whether a service lift needs booking and which hours moves are allowed. We protect new floors and walls just as carefully as in older blocks.

One more panelák quirk: many blocks have a narrow corridor between the lift and the flats. When you measure for furniture, include that corridor – it's often the tightest point on the whole route, narrower than the front door of the flat itself.

Summary

Moving in a panelák isn't complicated once you know what to expect. Good parking, packed boxes and accurate details about floors and lifts save the most time and money. Stairs without a lift cost €10 per floor plus extra time, Saturdays carry no surcharge, and on higher floors a three-person crew is worth it. Our team speaks English and moves people on every estate in Košice and Prešov – see our moving services or call us on +421 940 989 982. For packing tips, read How to pack for a move.