Finding a place to rent in Prague

Prague's rental market moves quickly. Well-priced flats in central and well-connected areas are often gone within days, sometimes hours, and viewings are frequently held as group appointments. Having your documents and deposit money ready before you start looking matters more than searching harder.

Where flats are advertised

• Sreality.cz — the largest general property portal, mostly agency listings.
• Bezrealitky.cz — as the name suggests, listings placed directly by owners, with no agency commission.
• Facebook groups for flatshares and sublets — useful, but the least regulated and the easiest place to meet a scam.
• Company noticeboards, university housing offices and word of mouth still fill a lot of flats before they are ever advertised.

Agency or directly from the owner

• An agency (realitní kancelář) handles viewings and paperwork, and normally charges the tenant a commission — often around one month's rent plus VAT. Ask what the commission is before you view.
• Renting directly from the owner avoids commission, but you do the checking yourself.
• Either way, the person signing must be the owner or hold a written power of attorney. Ask who you are actually signing with.

What to have ready

• Passport or ID, and your residence document if you have one.
• Proof of income or an employment contract — many landlords ask.
• Deposit and first month's rent available immediately.
• Never pay a 'reservation fee' by transfer before you have seen the flat and met the owner or agent.