Getting a flat

Getting a roof over your head is one of the key concerns when moving abroad. Renting or purchasing a property can pose a serious challenge, though. The housing market in Brno (and in the whole of the CR) is in a state of high demand and low offers, which is constantly pushing the prices up.

The price range for a one-bedroom apartment is between 10.000-20.000 CZK (plus utilities 3.000-8.000).

Rules and customs can differ widely from country to country – the system here in the CR may involve a few features which you’re not familiar with. However in general, the real estate scene isn’t overly complicated, and many regulations and restrictions have been eased in recent years.

Searching for accommodation

Most foreigners – at least when they first arrive here – opt for renting a flat or a house. You can search for your new accommodation through real estate agencies’ websites, online database servers that offer accommodation with real estate agencies, but also without, or you can rent an accommodation directly from the owner. If you’re renting from the owner without a real estate agent as a mediator, you won’t pay commission to the agency, but you won’t have anyone checking the legal accuracy of the lease. Before signing, send it to us and we will have a look at it. Or at least you understand well what you are getting into, here are ten things to consider (courtesy to Foreigners.cz) before signing the contract.

Who to deal with

It’s best to deal with a reputable agency. Of course, property owners certainly can and do offer their own flats and houses to rent, but be very careful: you may run into problems, particularly when it comes to obtaining proof of accommodation (needed for official purposes such as a visa). Good agencies will make sure that the person leasing the flat is legally entitled to do so, and that the lease contract contains all the necessary and standard provisions.

A) Using an agency

The usual fee (commission) charged by an agency is equivalent to one month’s rent (some agencies include monthly utilities into their commission, some don’t: check with your agency to avoid surprises).

Besides these agencies, you can also search online at the big database servers such as www.sreality.cz, and www.ulovdomov.cz, which present ads from real estate agencies, too. 

The following companies have experience in catering to foreigners:

B) Searching on your own

You can, of course, search for your house, apartment, or room independently and save money for the agency fee. Get familiar with the international communities and groups in Brno – the Facebook pages Multilingual Flats in Brno, Flat to Rent in Brno, or Flats Brno gather offers and demands for all sorts of accommodations.

Or search at www.bezrealitky.cz and contact the property owner directly via the website (you need to prepay membership for 800,- for three months). 

When to start

If your plan is to visit Brno before signing your lease, book temporary accommodation for at least two weeks and be prepared to prolong it. Start talking with agents/landlords prior to your arrival so you have a list of potential places and your viewings already scheduled when you arrive in Brno.

The majority of flats become available for a move-in at the start of a month (people usually finish their lease at the end of a month)  so plan your arrival accordingly.

If you’re planning to arrive in September, be prepared for a shortage of available flats: the term is starting and many students are moving to Brno. Our recommendation is to find and reserve a flat well in advance. Or, you can book a short-term accommodation (maybe through airbnb) for a month or two, and look for a flat with a move-in date in October or November – this way, you’ll have many more options to pick from.

Be aware of your responsibilities as a tenant so you get your security deposit back after moving out! You have to keep the apartment clean, take care of the furnishing and appliances, report any damage asap to the property owner etc. This article about how to keep your apartment clean might save you stress and money!

For visa purposes

For some residence permits, you’re required to submit a proof of accommodation already with your application.

However, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t want to sign a contract for a flat if you aren’t in the country to check the place for yourself.

The solution is to get a document called Proof of Accommodation (in Czech: “Potvrzení o ubytování”). Some agencies are able to get you this document, for a fee:

• Foreigners.cz, for 7,865 CZK
• HOME Hunters, for 4,250 CZK

Signing a contract

There are many things you should be aware of when signing your lease agreement. That’s why we made it into a separate guide. Read it here: Leasing a flat.

Additional services

The beginnings in a new flat can be tough. These services might help you:

Short and mid-term rentals

When looking for a temporary place for a few nights, book a room via booking.com or airbnb.com.

Other than that, it’s not that easy to find short-term accommodation in Brno. You can rent a bed or a room in hotels, hostels or Google search for “pension” (family style) or “ubytovna” (cheap housing for the working class). 

Some real estate agencies may offer a mid-term accommodation as well. CzechPoint 101 also informed us that they too rent out flats for a couple of weeks or months, though this is not advertised on their website. And the Foreigners agency offers mid-term accommodation as well, in international Domeq housing.

An affordable but almost always full option is the Pyramida lodging house (Francouzská 70) with studios and 1- or 2-bedroom flats. Close to the Brno Technological Park, IBM and RedHat offices is a Hotel a hostel Palacký (Kolejní 2905/2) and Mendel University student dorm with rooms for the public. (Don’t expect any luxury, though; quite the opposite)

Serviced but more expensive apartments are Brno Luxury Apartments (Křenová 8) and Apartments Arte (Náměstí Svobody). 

Sharing a flat

Sharing a flat with housemates (‘spolubydleni’) can be an economical solution which many students and young professionals choose. Your colleagues at work, friends, local or Erasmus students might be looking for a flatmate. Look around Facebook’s English Speaking group, Multilingual Flats in Brno or Flat to Rent in Brno, your workplace’s intranet, or try some of the sharing-flat websites:

• espolubydleni.cz (website only in Czech)

Another option is to form a group of flatmates and then search for a multi-bedroom flat together.

Purchasing a Property

Foreigners who have been in the CR for some time, or come here planning to stay for many years, may be interested in purchasing a flat, house, cottage, cabin in the country or piece of land.

Right now, no special requirements exist for foreigners buying a property in the CR.

Upon the time of the country’s accession to the EU in 2004, the Czechs asked for, and were granted, a temporary exemption from the EU directive forbidding any restrictions on the purchase of a property. Since then, change has come in two stages.

As of May 2009, most restrictions on the purchase of property by foreigners were removed; some remained for land zones designated as agricultural or as forests. These were lifted in May 2011. This means that now – subject to certain procedures that have to be followed in the purchase of agricultural land – all forms of property can be purchased by foreigners, whether from the EU member states or elsewhere.

Purchasing a property is no simple or straightforward process in any country. For that reason, you should certainly turn to a professional real estate agent to ensure that all the necessary steps have been taken and all legal requirements fulfilled.

One of the many important steps is to discuss your financial situation and possibilities with an expert. Contact us for recommendations. For example, the agency Home Hunters comes to mind.

Visiting Brno

If you’re in the city only for a short visit, the best options are hostels, Airbnb or regular hotels, depending on what your requirements for comfort and portfolio of services are.

 

Pictures by Jiří Lubojacký