Job Discussion Forums

[ITTP]

Hi!

Having been living in Prague now for over longer than I can remember, I have gotten used to a lot of the terminology which must have seemed extremely confusing when I first arrived in Prague and which I'm sure is just as confusing for other newbies coming to Prague.

So, to help here are a few:

KK = kitchen corner.
WC = toilet.
B = balcony.
1+1 = 1 bedroom.
2+1 = 2 bedrooms.
1+KK = 1 bedroom with a kitchen in the corner. This means that you will be sleeping in the same room where you will be cooking your meals.
2+kk = 2 bedrooms. One of the rooms doubles up as a kitchen.

Apartments are also described in terms of space available and if it has a balcony then the balcony space will be included in the overall apartment space calculations.

Some good tips when you are looking to rent an apartment:

1. NEVER rent out an apartment on the first floor.
First floor apartments are easy targets for burglars.

2. Attic apartments should be carefully weighed up as they tend to heat up in summer and cool right down in winter. Therefore you should look at the heating and cooling/ventilation options.

3. Always check the heating system and make sure that it is working and in order. You might be viewing the apartment in summer when it is lovely and hot but bear in mind that winters in Prague can get pretty chilly.

4. Noise can be a big issue, especially if you are living in Prague 1.
Trams can also be very noisy at night.
Some buildings, such as the soviet-built panelak apartment buildings, have thin walls and noise from neighbors can be an issue.
My advice is to arrange for a few viewings at different times of the day so that you get to see the apartment in the day time and in the evening.

5. Security should always be top priority.
- Does the door to the apartment have 2 locks? (always change locks when you move in and let the landlord know in advance of course).
- If the apartment has a balcony is it possible for a burglar to reach it easily?
- Is the main door to the building secure?
Was this door locked when you came to view the apartment?

Prague is a safe city and you shouldn't become overly cautious about where you live. Areas to avoid though are lower Zizkov and Karlin. I personally wouldn't recommend Vinohrady because it is an affluent neighborhood close to the city center and a magnet for burglars.

6. Extras.
Your basic rent will cover your rental costs but then you will need to pay for utilities such as gas and electricity.
Sometimes you will also be charged extra for water and general services, such as the cleaning of the apartment.
Internet charges are usually an additional charge too.
It is important to ask what you will be charged extra and how you will pay this.
Some landlords do take advantage of the fact that foreigners are not fully aware of local costs for utilites and often quote round figured sums which 'cover everything'.
Make sure that you get a copy of the bills.
Also, if you are asked to pay a monthly round figure sum then this is your deposit for utlities and that at the end of the year everything will be calculated and you will be either asked to pay additional amounts to cover the difference in money paid and energy consumed or given a refund for this difference if you paid more than you consumed.

7. Location isn't really an issue in Prague in terms of accessability because Prague has an excellent transport system and you are never more than an hour's journey from the center of the city.
Your location decider will probably be defined by your accommodation budget and your location requirements.
Prague 6 and upper Zizkov both win my vote because they are affordable neighborhoods and are both central.
Upper Zizkov btw is around the TV tower (the space-like tower which dominates the central Prague skyline).
Zizkov is a funky neighborhood with great bars and restaurants and Prague 6 is green with many parks and also with great bars and restaurants.

8. Sharing.
Sharing can either me a complete nightmare or a fantastic experience.
If you are taking a TEFL/TESOL Onsite course then spending 4 intense weeks with your fellow trainees will provide you with an excellent idea as to who you could and who you couldn't share an apartment with and trainees tend to hook up together for shared accommodation during or after their course.
Sharing dramatically reduces your rental fees.

9. Always ask for a receipt after paying anything.
In the Czech Republic any business which you give money to has to legally provide you with a receipt with its business ID number on (ICO).
Always ask for a receipt when paying for bills/internet charges, etc.

10. The Czech Republic has been going through an economic boom these past years and one of the offsets of this is that many owners of buildings now have the money to do them up. Great if you are the owner of the building but not so great if you are living in the apartment while the reconstruction work is going on. Try and get the landlord or agency to add to the contract an assurance that there won't be any reconstruction work taking place in the building for the duration of the apartment contract period signed.

Some useful accommodation links:

http://www.spolubydlici.cz
http://www.sreality.cz/
http://www.reality.cz/

Hezky den!/Lovely day!

Neville

ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1

[Chris Westergaard]

Most importantly now is to make sure your name is on an actual lease. You'll need it for your visa.

[parrothead]

Good post. Could be helpful as a sticky.

[ITTP]

[ITTP]

Last additional point

Try booking accommodation when you have arrived (assuming you are now somebody reading this who is not taking a TEFL course with accommodation).
Booking upon arrival will mean that you get the opportunity to actually see the property for yourself (not just photos), and you can try and negotiate the price down too. Plus, you will have a much clearer idea of the local area where you will be renting.
For interim accommodation we warmly recommend the highly recommended Boathouse Hostel:
http://www.hostelboathouse.com/
It's a 30 minute tram ride out of the city center core but it a good choice as it is well-run, clean, affordable and secure.

If I were arriving to Prague for the first time and didn't have accommodation booked ahead then I'd arrange a week in the Boathouse while I went through the offers of spolubydlici.cz .
It should take less than a week but it's always good to have a comfort zone.

Remember that having a mobile phone is essential for Prague - for applying for teaching jobs through to setting up meeting times for property viewings. If your phone is dual, tri or quad band then you can use it in the Czech Republic. You might need to get your phone de-blocked and for this I recommend the following place:
get yourself to Narodni Trida metro station and cross over the tram tracks there outside TESCO, so that you are on the other side of the tram track road (on the right side of the road), and facing the side wall of TESCO (it's kind of like a UK version of Wallmart). You then need to face the direction of the trams going away from TESCO (which should be on your right if you are facing TESCO and Narodni Trida metro station). This road is SPALENA street. Walk a minute and cross over the first cobbled stone road, staying on the right side of the tram tracks, and then 30 seconds on your right is a first/secondhand mobile phone shop. If you walk past this shop and turn right there is an archway which leads to a back shop and it's here that they unblock phones. The charge for this service shouldn't be more than 200 - 500 CZK (depending on the phone).
Broken English spoken here
Mobile phone service providers in the Czech Republic are:
Vodafone
O2
T-Mobile
We work with Vodafone and you can walk into any of their retail outlets and pick up a Czech sim card, with credit, for either 200 CZK or 500 CZK (includes 200 or 500 free phone credits).

Have a great day!

Neville

ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1

[musicalchef]

What a great thread! I just have a couple follow up questions (for now!).

1. Which numbered region is upper Zizkov in?

2. What would be a reasonable rate for a flat? (I know, big topic, it's just that I think I got ripped off when I was staying in Sarajevo and want to be able to detect a "red flag") I will probably be taking your advice and looking for a place in Prague 6, or somewhere else outside of the really expensive areas, and would like either a 1+1 or a 2+kk.

3. Any other recommended areas in Prague? By the way, my school is in the center. I don't want to live in that area because of the cost, but I also don't want to commute an hour each day if I can help it!

[parrothead]

Zizkov is mostly Prague 3.
Prague 6 is definitely a lovely area, but I would say it is actually one of the more expensive places to live after Prague 1 and 2.

[musicalchef]

What is a flatlet? Is that like a studio? If so, what would be the difference between that and a 1+kk? What is an average price for these (or, what price is definitely too much for one)?

And does anyone have any other recommended areas to look?

[Great Teacher Umikun]

[ITTP]