Moving within Prague: how to change district without losing your deposit

You like your flat and your landlord. You just need one more bedroom, or one tram stop fewer. Moving within Prague is an ordinary decision that goes quietly wrong in three places: the notice clock, the double deposit and the overlap month. Plan those and the rest is boxes.

Start with the notice clock

On an open-ended lease you can leave without giving a reason, with three months' notice that runs from the first day of the month after delivery (§ 2286 Civil Code). A hypothetical case: you deliver notice on 20 March, the period starts on 1 April and ends on 30 June. Deliver it on 2 April and the lease ends on 31 July. The detail is in ending a rental in Prague.

A fixed-term lease runs to its end date, and leaving early normally needs the landlord's agreement. Ask early. Many landlords prefer a good tenant leaving on a date they can plan for, and some will release you if you find a replacement.

The practical problem is that you do not yet know the new flat's start date. You can give notice first and risk a gap, or find the new place first and negotiate the end date with the old landlord. Most people take the second route and ask for the agreed date in writing.

The double deposit

The new landlord will ask for up to three months' rent as a deposit when you sign. The old landlord holds your old deposit until the lease ends and the flat is checked. For a while you fund both, and it is the biggest cash cost of a move.

Can you ask the old landlord to take the last month's rent out of the deposit? Only if the landlord agrees. Do not stop paying and call it a set-off, because that can be treated as a breach. Ask in writing and get the answer in writing.

A clean handover protects the old deposit: photographs, meter readings with the landlord, all keys returned and a signed exit protocol. The move-in checklist is the mirror image for the new flat.

Overlap rent

A few days or weeks with both keys give you time to paint, clean and make several trips in a small car. That overlap is rent twice. Your options:

• Ask the new landlord for a later start. A few days can matter.
• Ask the old landlord for an earlier end. A landlord with a replacement lined up may agree.
• Pay the overlap and treat it as the price of calm. For a family it is often worth it.

Negotiate in writing and confirm the dates. Our guide to negotiating rent suggests what to ask for in return.

Admin that follows you

Address. Update your registered address. EU citizens report their new place of stay as the rules require, and residence permit holders report address changes to the Ministry of the Interior (OAMP), not the police (as of 2026; check mvcr.cz). The new owner's consent is needed.

Utilities. Close the old electricity and gas contracts with final readings and open new ones for the new address. Cancel or transfer the internet, remembering its notice period.

Schools and transport. State school places follow your registered address, so ask the school before you move. A new address can change your nearest stop and your PID options; see Prague public transport tickets.

Post. Redirect it, and tell the bank, the insurer and your employer.

Choosing the new district

If the district is the reason for moving, compare before you jump. The neighbourhood comparison table helps you shortlist. If the commute is the reason, read where to live near Pankrác or Smíchov offices. If a modern building tempts you, our guide to new-build flats for rent explains who the landlord really is.

Moving day

Book a van early for the end of the month, when many leases turn over and the good slots go. Check access at both ends: lift sizes, stairs, where the van can stop and whether a parking permit is needed. If the old building has an owners' association, ask about rules on moving times and protecting the lift.

Pack by room and carry the essentials yourself: documents, chargers, keys, medicines. Hand over the old flat first if you can, and do the meter readings and photos with the landlord before the new flat swallows your afternoon. Photograph the new flat before you unpack, so you hold the protocol you need there.

Ask the old landlord what cleaning standard they expect, so you do not pay twice, and ask the new one whether the flat is delivered clean. A clean-flat clause in the lease prevents the argument later.

Frequently asked questions

How much notice do I have to give to move out?

For an open-ended lease, three months, counted from the first day of the month after the landlord receives the notice.

Can I use my old deposit as the new deposit?

No. The old landlord returns it after the lease ends, and you pay a new deposit to the new landlord.

Do I pay rent for both flats during the overlap?

Yes, unless you agree different dates with either landlord. Negotiate in writing.

Do I need to re-register my address?

Yes, under the rules for your status. Ask the new owner for consent.

Book the overlap before the movers, not after. The most expensive part of a move is usually the week nobody planned.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.