APK ANDROID

These are your options regarding finding accommodation:

• A real-estate agency(easy but expensive)
• Dealing with the owners(hard if you dont speak czech but cheaper)

If you can afford it, a real estate agency can be helpful, especially with translating documents, interpreting

between you and the potential landlord, searching for possible apartments for you, helping you with setting up an internet connection, paying utilities, and perhaps even negotiating the rent on your behalf. Most agencies will have these services displayed on their website. If an agency doesnt have a good website in english, dont bother with them.

Keep in mind there are a few drawbacks with using a real estate agency:

Most owners will want to know what country you are from(worst you can be is russian, best is german), how long you are planning to stay, and how many people you represent. Best answers to give is at least one year(even if you plan to stay for less), and one or two persons.

Some owners will also want to know what you do for a living, how old you are, if you are married(with children), and other general information so they can decide what lucky person will be living in their wonderful apartment. So it will basically feel like a job interview. 

Most owners will want a months rent in advance and a deposit(typically also one months rent - maybe two if the apartment has very nice furniture). 

If you like the place it is important to ask about the price of the utilities(poplatky), typically the owner will ask for a certain amount (for example 2000 CZK), from which he will pay the utilities, and then once a year(or before if you move out earlier than one year),  you and the landlord add up the bills and the amount you paid, and see who needs to pay who more money. The deposit you paid in the beginning can also

be used for balancing the cost of the utilities. Just make sure to ask the owner to keep and show you the paid bills.

It is best to avoid an arrangement where you have to pay the utilities yourself(except the internet, which is advisable to get yourself, and quite easy - more on this in another post).

Before you sign the contract make sure you get a czech speaking friend to translate it for you, or ask the owner to do that, or use Google translate. Typically the notice period for moving out is 1-3 months, anything more than that and you should find another place.

Also make sure you write the values for the meters for the utilities in the contract, and maybe also take a picture of the meters. It is a good idea to also take a few pictures of the apartment before moving in, with the owner present. Also make sure everything works, hot water, heating, washing machine, electricity, etc.

Also very important to ask the owner for a copy of their ID and keep it, and compare it with the original.

Also make sure the address of the apartment is written in the contract correctly and in full.

Remind the owner to contact the building administrator and tell them that you have moved into the building, and to mention to them that you dont speak czech.

Access the link below for an example rental agreement presented to me by a potential landlord:

http://www.filedropper.com/tenancycontract-flat-nadsestikopy06032012

A more experience landlord will also have this document:

http://www.filedropper.com/rentalagreementhandoverrecord-nadsestikopy06032012

The internet is full of websites with real estate agencies and advice on where to find places, i think the best one is:

http://www.bezrealitky.cz/

Lots of apartments, many owners speak english(some even post advertisements in english), and mostly no agencies. Regarding the prices, it is difficult to find anything in a decent area of Prague below 10.000 CZK(for a studio or a one bedroom apartment, aprox. 40 sqm). This is without the utilities which would be in the 2000-5000 CZK range, depending on the size of the place. Be careful with advertisements requesting a very low amount for the utilities, like 500 CZK, ask for what is included.

Thats about it, good luck hunting !