New build, panel block or old tenement?
The age of a house shapes the layout, the heating bills and the repairs ahead. Where in Prague houses built after 1990 dominate, where the housing is older and what to watch for with each type of house.
How we count
For each neighbourhood (we compare 85) we take the official building register and work out what share of residential houses, blocks of flats and family houses alike, was finished after 1990. Each house counts once, however many flats it has, and only neighbourhoods with at least 20 houses with a known year are ranked.
Where the newest housing is
The most houses built after 1990 are in Pitkovice (92 %), Černý Most (81 %) and Újezd u Průhonic (76 %). In the middle neighbourhood it is 33 % of houses.
Prague neighbourhoods with the newest houses
- 92 % of homes after 1990 Pitkovice Praha 22
- 81 % of homes after 1990 Černý Most Praha 14
- 76 % of homes after 1990 Újezd u Průhonic Praha-Újezd
- 68 % of homes after 1990 Slivenec
- 66 % of homes after 1990 Horní Měcholupy Praha 15
- 66 % of homes after 1990 Kolovraty
- 66 % of homes after 1990 Šeberov
- 65 % of homes after 1990 Satalice
- 64 % of homes after 1990 Štěrboholy
- 64 % of homes after 1990 Lipence
The fewest are in Nusle (6 %), Staré Město (6 %) and Bubeneč (9 %).
Fewest houses built after 1990
- 6 % of homes after 1990 Nusle Praha 4
- 6 % of homes after 1990 Staré Město Praha 1
- 9 % of homes after 1990 Bubeneč Praha 6
- 9 % of homes after 1990 Nové Město Praha 1
- 9 % of homes after 1990 Holešovice Praha 7
Three types of house and what to expect
- Tenement houses (mostly before 1945): high ceilings, thick walls, often close to the centre in a finished neighbourhood. On the other hand older pipes and wiring, sometimes no lift, and all owners chip in for the facade, roof or risers.
- Panel blocks (roughly 1960 to 1990): practical layouts, a lift, housing estates with shops, schools and public transport. Many blocks are already insulated with new windows and risers; where that has not happened yet, the work is still to come and will show in the payments.
- Houses after 1990: lower energy use, garages, new wiring and pipes and no big repairs for a long time. But they often stand in neighbourhoods where the school, shops or tram are still being built, and cost more per square metre.
What to ask about any house
- Energy performance certificate: the class in the listing tells you more about heating bills than the year of construction.
- Repair fund and planned works: how much is in the fund, what the owners’ association or cooperative is planning and whether the monthly payments will rise because of it.
- Older houses: when the risers, wiring, windows and lift were replaced and whether the house is insulated.
- New builds: who handles defect claims, whether more construction will surround the house soon and when the nearest school or shop opens.
Frequently asked questions
Which Prague neighbourhood has the most new houses?
The highest share of residential houses finished after 1990 is in Pitkovice (92 %), Černý Most (81 %) and Újezd u Průhonic (76 %). We use the official building register and count each house once.
Where in Prague are there the fewest new builds?
The lowest share of houses built after 1990 is in Nusle (6 %), Staré Město (6 %) and Bubeneč (9 %).
Is it better to buy a new build or an older flat?
A new build tends to use less energy and needs no big repairs for years, but costs more and is often in an area where schools, shops and transport are still being built. An older flat tends to be cheaper and in a finished neighbourhood, but expect repairs to the house. The specific house decides: the energy performance certificate, the repair fund and the planned works.