Where and how to find apartment?
Published:
Finding a new home is often an emotional process – ranging from initial excitement to the frustration of endlessly browsing listings that do not match reality. In the Czech Republic, the rental housing market is very dynamic and has become significantly competitive in recent years. To prevent apartment hunting from becoming a nightmare, one must approach it strategically and avoid the mistakes made by "eternal seekers."
How people usually search (and where they go wrong)? Most people start by opening the most well-known real estate portal once a day, setting filters, and waiting to see what appears. When they find something interesting, they write a brief email: "I am interested in a viewing, call me." Nowadays, this is the fastest way to be ignored by a landlord.
Common mistakes include:
**Slow response:** Dozens of people respond to attractive apartments in major cities within the first hour.
**Lack of self-presentation:** A landlord chooses whom to entrust with their property. If you write nothing about yourself, you are merely an anonymous risk to them.
**Unrealistic expectations:** Searching for a "cheap, renovated apartment in the city center" is currently more of a utopia.
Specific challenges for foreigners Finding housing in the Czech Republic is demanding in itself, but for foreigners, the process can be even more complicated. They often encounter language barriers where owners or older brokers do not speak English and prefer a Czech-speaking applicant to avoid potential misunderstandings in communication or the contract. Conversely, there is a widespread perception that foreigners in the CR generally have well-paid jobs in IT or are entrepreneurs with plenty of money, and can therefore afford much higher rent.
Unfortunately, prejudices still persist. Some landlords have concerns about the administration associated with reporting foreigners to the Foreign Police (even though it is a simple task) or fear that a foreign tenant might move back to their home country overnight, leaving debts behind. We therefore recommend that foreigners prepare references from previous landlords, an employment contract as proof of stability, and ideally communicate with the help of a Czech-speaking friend or a professional representative.
The right way:
Be active and prepared If you want to succeed, you must view the search as a "part-time job." Set up "watchdogs" on all portals so that notifications for new listings are sent immediately to your email or phone.
When writing your first message, be specific. State who you are, what you do, and how many people will live in the apartment. A solid tenant profile increases your chances of a viewing by hundreds of percent. Arrive at the viewing on time and have questions ready regarding utilities, energy costs, and the security deposit.
Where to look: Overview of real estate servers Each portal has its specifics. Here is a list of the most important ones in the CR:
**Sreality.cz** * *Pros:* Largest selection in the CR, clear map-based search, high credibility. * *Cons:* Most listings are from real estate agencies, so you must account for a commission (usually one month's rent + VAT). *
**Bezrealitky.cz** * *Pros:* No agency commission, direct contact with the owner. * *Cons:* Huge competition (hundreds of people write for a single apartment), necessity to pay for a premium account to contact owners quickly. *
**bazos.cz** * *Pros:* Large selection of apartments from owners - no commission. * *Cons:* Outdated interface and more difficult search functionality. *
**UlovDomov.cz** * *Pros:* Modern interface, often verified listings, good filter system. * *Cons:* Smaller volume of listings compared to Sreality. *
**Facebook groups (e.g., "Bydlení Praha", "Nájem Brno")** * *Pros:* Opportunity to find offers not listed on major portals, often without commission. * *Cons:* Large number of fraudulent listings, chaos, necessity to constantly monitor the feed.
Finding an apartment requires patience and speed. However, if you know where to look and how to present yourself correctly, it is only a matter of time before you find the right place to live.