Flat viewing: a checklist
A half-hour viewing decides years of your life. What to go through in the flat, the building and the area, and what to ask, so nothing takes you by surprise.
Before you go
- Check the owner in the land registry (katastr nemovitostí; looking it up is free). The agreement should be signed by the owner or by someone with their power of attorney.
- Look round the area online. The neighbourhood page shows the journey to the centre, noise, the nearest parks, shops, doctors and schools.
- Catchment school. If you have or are planning children, check the catchment school and nursery for the address before you decide.
In the flat
- Damp and mould: corners of rooms, behind wardrobes, around windows, the bathroom. A musty smell is a warning sign.
- Windows: do they seal, do they open, which way do they face (the street or the courtyard)?
- Electrics: the circuit breakers, the number of sockets, aluminium wiring in older buildings.
- Water: turn on the taps and the shower, check the pressure and how quickly the hot water comes through.
- Heating: what the heating runs on and how it is paid for. Ask for the last annual statement.
- Appliances and furnishings: what stays and in what condition. All of it then goes into the handover report.
- Signal and internet: try your phone in every room.
In the building
- The state of the entrance, the stairs and the lift tells you how well the building is run.
- Where the cellars, bikes, prams and bins go.
- Ask about the neighbours and planned repairs (insulation, replacing the risers) that could push up the advance payments or disrupt you for months.
Outside
- Noise: come at a busy time and open the window. A flat facing the courtyard is usually much quieter.
- Transport: walk to the stop and look at how often services run in the evening and at weekends.
- Parking: in the blue zones you need a resident's permit; check which zone the address falls in.
- Shops, doctor, park: how many minutes on foot?
Questions for the landlord
- What are the advance payments for services and energy, and what did the last annual statement come to?
- How much is the deposit, and when and how will it be returned?
- How long is the tenancy agreement and on what terms is it extended?
- Can you register your permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) at the flat?
- Can you keep a pet, keep a bike in the flat, hang pictures?
- Why is the previous tenant moving out?
At the handover
Draw up a handover report (předávací protokol): the condition of the flat, the furnishings, any defects and the readings of all meters (water, electricity, gas, heat). Photograph everything with the date. A report signed by both sides is the best protection for your deposit.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask at a flat viewing?
Who owns the flat, what the advance payments for services are and what the last annual statement came to, how the flat is heated, how old the electrics are, who lives around and why the previous tenant is moving out.
How can I tell if a flat is damp?
Look for dark patches in corners, behind furniture and around windows; there is often a musty smell. A single freshly painted wall may be hiding mould.
How can I find out if a flat will be noisy?
Come on a weekday at a busy time and open the window. On Městomat you can see for every neighbourhood how many addresses are above the traffic noise limit, and for an address the noise by day and by night.