Want to rent an Old Town apartment at a fair price? Bidding starts now

The City of Prague has introduced a pilot program to rent apartments at market rates through electronic auctions. This initiative aims to improve housing accessibility in the capital.

According to the municipality, the program will make better use of the city's housing stock while ensuring transparency. The first round of auctions features 10 apartments in central locations, including some within the UNESCO-listed Prague Monument Reserve.

“This pilot project will help us gauge public interest in this type of rental,” said Alexandra Udženija, Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Housing Policy. “Our goal is to ensure the city’s housing stock meets the needs of all Prague residents.”

The program focuses on apartments unsuitable for social housing, offering them at lower rates instead. These include properties in high-demand areas like Panská Street in Palác Piaristů, Truhlářská Street, and Školská Street in the Ambrožů terraced building, all located in Prague 1.

Interested participants can register for the first round of auctions, which opened this week. To join, they must pay a deposit of CZK 20,000 and can bid in increments of CZK 100 above a pre-set base rent reflecting the market value of the location. The highest bidder will win the lease.

To qualify, bidders must meet specific criteria:

The leasing competition involves two stages. First, applicants submit their forms to Prague City Hall, which assesses their eligibility based on income and background.

Approved applicants then join an electronic auction for specific apartments. Auctions are held within five days of candidate selection and run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Applications for the first stage can be submitted by post, in person at Prague City Hall, or through the electronic filing system during designated office hours. Full details are on the official City of Prague website (Czech-only).

“Balancing social and market use of apartments is crucial for meeting citizens’ needs,” Udženija summarized.

This program reflects Prague’s dual approach to housing policy—combining social responsibility with effective asset management. “We aim to collect fair rent from these properties, which can then be reinvested into the housing stock,” Udženija added. Winners of the auctions could move into their new homes "within weeks."