ASK AN EXPERT: What documents are required to rent an apartment in Czechia?

Securing a rental flat in Prague has become more competitive these days, with demand far outpacing supply, so it’s important to be prepared to pounce when you find a place you love.  

We asked Ondřej Hlaváč, head of residential rentals at Engel & Völkers Prague, to tell us what documents you’ll need and what to expect during the reservation and leasing process.  

You don’t necessarily need any special documents to lease a flat in Prague – just a valid ID card or passport.

In Western countries like the UK, Germany, and Switzerland, it is standard practice during the application process that tenants are asked for proof of income, as well as a bank statement, employment contract, and references from their previous landlord. This is not standard in the Czech Republic, but landlords can ask for it if they want. 

Landlords or rental agencies in the Czech Republic usually only check the insolvency register, the central register of enforcement, and the database of persons wanted by the police when considering prospective tenants. They may also check if a potential tenant works for the company they claim to. Sometimes they check social networks like LinkedIn.

Once all these checks are completed, and the landlord agrees to lease the flat, it’s then necessary to sign a reservation contract to block the flat before the lease contract is signed.

This is generally seen as a binding step. The tenant is asked to pay a reservation fee, which usually totals one month of rent plus value-added tax (VAT). Rental agencies will safe keep the reservation deposit until the final contract is signed.

If the rental contract isn’t signed within the reservation period due to the fault of the leaseholder, the reservation fee will be used to compensate for expenses incurred by the rental agency and the landlord. The fault might include the leaseholder failing to conclude the lease agreement or failing to pay the security deposit and the first month's rent within the period specified in the lease agreement.   

If the rental contract isn’t signed within the reservation period due to the fault of the rental agency and landlord, the reservation deposit will generally be returned in full within five business days by cashless transfer to the leaseholder’s bank account.

Meanwhile, a draft of the lease contract is prepared for both parties. Sometimes, the landlord will have their lease contract already prepared. However, many landlords will ask agencies to prepare a draft of the lease contract. At Engel & Völkers, for example, lease contracts are up to date regarding the Czech civil code, and the rights and obligations of both parties are carefully laid out.

After the lease contract is signed by both parties, and the tenant has paid the first month’s rent and the security deposit to the landlord, the flat is then handed over. 

The handover protocol needs to be signed by both parties. This is a documentation of the flat’s condition. Photos of the flat should be included and any visible damages should be mentioned in this document, as well as the number of keys given to the tenant and data from the electricity, gas, and water readers for future billing.

After the handover, electricity and gas consumption can be transferred to the tenant if both parties agree. A tenant must fill in another two forms to transfer these energies to their name.

The landlord is obliged to inform the Foreigner’s Police within three days of finalizing the rental contract that they are leasing their property to a foreigner. It doesn’t matter if the foreigner is from another EU state or is a third-country national.

Some tenants will have to fill out additional paperwork to meet their visa requirements. This form can be downloaded from the handover protocol’s website. The tenant must fill in their details, while the landlord finishes filling out the form with their details. The landlord must go to CzechPoint or any notary to certify their signature. The landlord then should return the form to the tenant who is responsible for delivering it to the Foreigner’s Police as part of their visa application.

Tenants can also apply for a temporary residency card with the Foreigner’s Police, which is necessary if they intend to park in the residential blue zones in Prague.