Finding a plumber or electrician in Prague: who to call and who pays

The pipe under the sink starts to weep on a Sunday evening. You have a bucket, a towel and no idea whom to call. In Prague the answer depends on three things: whether you rent or own, whether the fault is inside your flat or in the building, and whether it is an emergency.

Step one: whose problem is it?

If you rent, tell the landlord (or the agent who runs the flat) first, in writing, with a photo. The Civil Code makes the landlord responsible for keeping the flat in a usable state, and a government decree splits the work: the tenant pays for small repairs and routine maintenance, the landlord for the rest (as of 2026; check the current decree and your lease). If a repair is urgent and you cannot reach the landlord, take photos, limit the damage and keep every receipt.

If you own, the inside of the flat is your responsibility. The risers, the main stack pipes, the meter cupboard and the roof belong to the whole building and are looked after by the building manager (správce) or the owners' association (společenství vlastníků, SVJ). A leak that comes from a neighbour's flat is a matter for the building manager and the insurance of both households. If you are weighing ownership against renting, our fellow site's overview of buying property in Czechia as a foreigner explains how ownership works.

True emergencies

Some situations do not wait for a landlord.

A smell of gas means you leave. Do not switch lights on or off, do not use a naked flame, open a window on the way out, and call from the street. The Czech gas emergency number is 1239 (as of 2026; confirm on your gas distributor's page), and 112 reaches the general emergency line. A power cut affecting your whole street is the distributor's job, not yours, and its fault line is on your bill. A burst pipe means closing the stopcock (the hlavní uzávěr vody) and ringing the building manager or the water company. Know where that tap is on your first day. Our emergency numbers guide lists the rest.

Who is allowed to do what

Not every repair can be done by a handyman. Work on gas appliances and gas pipework needs a qualified person. Electrical installations must be inspected by a certified inspector (revizní technik), and a landlord usually needs a valid inspection report (revize) for the installation and for gas appliances. Ask the trader what certificate they hold and for what type of work, and keep a copy of any inspection report.

Ordinary jobs, such as unblocking a sink, replacing a tap or fitting a light, are within the reach of a competent tradesperson without a special certificate. If a job involves the fuse board or the meter, assume it needs a specialist.

How to find a tradesperson

Start with the people who know the building. The landlord or building manager often has a firm they trust, and the owners' association usually uses regular contractors for the shared parts. A neighbour will tell you who turned up when they said.

Online, the Czech business directory Firmy.cz lists local firms with reviews, and general search will do the rest. Reviews help, but they are not proof. Look for a registered company or sole trader (a business ID, the IČO, is the quickest check), a fixed address and a clear quote.

English is not guaranteed. Many firms handle messages in English or can manage with photos, but smaller outfits may not. Send a photo, a short message and the address. If you have a Czech-speaking friend or neighbour, ask them to make the first call.

What to say

A few short phrases carry you a long way.

• Teče mi voda (water is leaking).
• Nefunguje elektřina (there is no power).
• Ucpaný odpad (blocked drain).
• Můžete přijít dnes? (Can you come today?)
• Kolik to bude stát? (How much will it cost?)

Ask for a price or a price range before the work starts, and ask whether the call-out fee is charged even if the repair is not done.

Paying and paperwork

Pay against an invoice or a receipt, and keep it. If the landlord is meant to reimburse you, send the invoice with a short note the same day. Cash is common for small jobs, but a card or bank transfer leaves a record. For larger work, agree stages and do not pay everything in advance.

A consumer has a statutory warranty on work and parts, and the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) explains how complaints work. If a job goes wrong, write to the firm describing the fault and the date, keep photographs and ask for a repair within a stated period.

Before you need one

The easiest time to find a plumber is when nothing is leaking. On the day you move in, locate the water stopcock, the fuse board and the gas shut-off. Photograph each one. Save the landlord's number, the building manager's number and the emergency lines on your phone. Our first week checklist is a good place to add those to.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays for a plumber in a rented Prague flat?

It depends on the repair. Small repairs and routine maintenance are normally the tenant's cost, larger repairs the landlord's. Check your lease and tell the landlord first.

Can any electrician fix my fuse board?

Work on the installation needs the right qualification, and inspections need a certified inspector. Ask what certificate they hold.

Do plumbers in Prague speak English?

Some do, many manage with photos and short messages, and some do not. Send photos and a clear address.

What do I do if I smell gas?

Leave the flat, open the door behind you, and call the gas emergency line or 112 from outside.

Today, find the stopcock. It takes thirty seconds and will save you an evening.

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