Rent a room in Prague long term: what the contract should say

A handshake and a bank transfer is how plenty of Prague room rentals begin, and how plenty end in an argument about a missing deposit. A one-page contract won't remove all risk, but it turns "he said, she said" into something both sides can read. Here is what the paper should say.

First, who is the landlord?

There are two common set-ups. Either the owner of the flat lets you the room, or a main tenant rents the whole flat from the owner and sublets rooms. Both are workable, but the second generally needs the owner's consent. Without it, the main tenant may be breaching their own lease, and you are in a weak position.

Ask who the owner is. The cadastre is public and searchable online, and shows the owner's name. If a main tenant is subletting, ask to see the owner's written consent and a copy of the main lease. A genuine person won't mind. For the wider picture of rooms and flatshares, see our guide to cheap rooms.

The clauses to look for

Rent and services

The contract should say whether rent includes services (water, heating, building charges, electricity, internet) or whether you pay advances that are settled once a year. If there's a yearly settlement, ask how a refund or extra bill would be split between the people in the flat. Vague wording such as "plus bills" is a quarrel waiting to happen.

Deposit

The legal maximum is three months' rent. At the end of the lease it should come back with at least statutory interest, minus justified claims such as unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear. The law doesn't fix a number of weeks for the return, so write one into the contract. Photograph the room when you move in and note flaws in a hand-over protocol (předávací protokol).

Notice and ending the contract

Tenancy notice runs from the first day of the month after it's delivered, unlike employment notice. A tenant can end an open-ended lease with three months' notice, no reason needed. A landlord can end one only on the grounds in the Civil Code, with three months' notice, and the notice must tell you about your right to object to a court within two months.

For a fixed-term contract, leaving early is harder. Look for an early-exit clause or the right to find a replacement. Many room contracts give a shorter notice in practice, but only if they say so. Don't assume. The 12-month lease guide has the full picture.

Subletting in practice

If you take a room from a main tenant, you're a subtenant. Subletting needs the landlord's consent, and you have no direct contract with the owner, which can complicate registering your address or what happens when the main tenant leaves. Ask who would take over if the main tenant moved out, and whether the owner knows you live there. If the answer is vague, ask for the owner's contact details and a written statement of consent.

House rules, in writing

Short and specific is best. Guests: how many nights, and whether flatmates must agree. Noise: quiet hours. Cleaning: a rota or a shared cleaner. Smoking and pets: allowed or not. Locks: you should have a key and, ideally, a lock on your door. If something matters to you, such as a spot for your bike or access to the cellar, write it into the contract. A rule that's written down is easier to enforce and easier to challenge.

Landlord access and registration

Entry for inspections and repairs needs prior notice, and the landlord can bring future tenants round in the last three months. Without notice, entry is allowed only to prevent damage. If a main tenant lives in the flat, the same principle applies to your room: nobody walks in unannounced.

If you need a registered address for a visa or other procedure, the owner has to agree, and the contract or a separate form should say so. Foreigners should follow the reporting rules for their status from the Ministry of the Interior, and check them before signing a room-only deal where the owner isn't involved. A room without registration may be fine for a short stay, but it's a problem if you need an address for a permit.

Signing day

Bring ID and the money for the deposit and first rent, and ask for a receipt for each. Sign two copies, one for each side. Photograph the room in front of the landlord, record meter readings and write the number of keys on the protocol. Don't accept a verbal promise that "we'll write that later".

A room contract is short, and a short contract is cheap to check, so if you're unsure, have a lawyer or an advice service read it. If you're settling in for a few years, you might also test whether renting still beats owning with Hypoteky.com's calculator for the rent-or-own question. Meanwhile, the renting guide covers the search.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent a room without a written contract?

It's possible, but unwise. Ask for a written agreement with the key terms.

Who pays the deposit back, the main tenant or the owner?

The party that received it, as named in the contract. Make sure the contract names them.

Can the landlord raise the rent mid-term?

Only as the contract and the law allow. Ask for any increase in writing.

Is a contract in English valid?

A contract in English can be valid, but have a Czech version or a translation you can show to authorities.

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