Prague rental agencies: how they charge and what to ask

You email about one flat and by evening three agencies have rung you. Much of Prague's rental market runs through agents, and for a newcomer who reads no Czech they are often the shortest route to a lease. They are also a business, so learn how they are paid first.

No fee amounts here: they differ by agency and by deal. The aim is to give you the questions.

Who pays the agency?

Three models exist. The landlord pays, and the tenant pays nothing. The tenant pays a fee when a lease is signed. Or both pay. Which applies to a flat is not obvious from the advert, so ask at the start of the first call: "Who pays your fee, and how much is it?"

A common structure is a one-off fee tied to the rent, due once a lease is agreed. Details differ, so check whether the fee is a fixed sum or a share of the rent, whether it includes VAT, and whether it is refundable if the lease falls through. Get the answer in writing, in English if you can.

What the agency does for the money

A good agent finds flats that match your brief, arranges viewings, speaks to the landlord, drafts the lease and attends the handover. Ask for each of those in turn. If the agent only forwards listings from portals, you are paying for a search you could run yourself.

Ask whether the agency acts for the landlord, for you or for both. It matters, because an agent paid by the landlord has a duty to the landlord, and you may need to check the lease with your own eyes or a lawyer. See our guide to English-speaking lawyers if the contract is long.

Questions to ask before you view

• Is the flat available now, and is it exclusively listed with you?
• Who is the landlord, and will I meet them?
• What is the fee, who pays it and when?
• What does the monthly rent include? Utilities, building fund, internet?
• Can I see a draft lease before I commit?

If an agent cannot answer those, ask yourself why.

The deposit and the lease

Whoever pays the agency, the tenancy is governed by the Civil Code. The deposit (jistota) is capped at three months' rent and returned at the end of the lease with at least statutory interest, less justified claims (as of 2026; Civil Code § 2254). It should be recorded in the lease and paid to the landlord's account named in it. Our 12-month lease explainer walks through the other clauses.

Agency or direct?

Going direct to landlords through portals can save the fee, if you have time and some Czech. Agencies earn their cost when you have a deadline, such as a job start or a school term, or when you do not speak Czech. If you are weighing it, our guide to where to look and what to expect compares the channels, and the piece on English-friendly landlords covers the language side.

Some developers also let flats directly, with no agent in between. Ask them the same fee questions.

Red flags

An agent who rushes you ("three others are coming at six"). A request for money before the viewing or before any paper. A refusal to name the owner. Photos that do not match the flat. A deposit sent to a private account. We list the usual traps in our guide to rental scams.

If a dispute with a business cannot be settled, the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) handles some consumer complaints; check what it covers on its website.

If an agency fee has you wondering about buying instead, the buy or rent calculator on Hypoteky.com compares the long-run costs of each. It is a tool, not advice.

Exclusive listings and double charges

Some landlords list a flat with one agency exclusively; others let several agencies advertise it. You may see the same flat on three sites with three different contacts. Ask each agent whether the listing is exclusive, and who the landlord is. Be wary of paying two agencies for the same flat; one written agreement per transaction is the rule.

If an agency introduced you to a flat and you later contact the landlord directly, check your brokerage agreement for any clause that applies. Many agreements say a fee is due if the lease is signed because of the introduction. Read that clause before you view.

Language and paperwork

English-speaking agents are common, but the paperwork is often Czech. Ask for the brokerage agreement in a language you can read. A professional agency will give you a copy of the agreement and of the draft lease before you commit. If it is rushed, or you are told the paper "can wait", that is the moment to ask a lawyer for an hour of advice.

After you move in

Ask at the start who you call after the keys change hands, for a boiler fault or a question about the lease. Keep the agent's name, the company's name and the IČO in a folder with the lease.

Frequently asked questions

Does the tenant always pay the agency?

No. Practice varies: the landlord, the tenant or both may pay. Ask before you view.

Can an agency ask for a deposit?

The deposit belongs under the lease, to the landlord. Be careful about paying it to anyone else without a clear written reason.

How much is the deposit?

At most three months' rent under the Civil Code (as of 2026; check the Ministry for Regional Development).

Can I negotiate the fee?

You can ask. Some agencies will move; others will not. Do it before you sign.

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