How to find a long-term rental with no estate agent's commission
The easiest way to find a long-term rental with no commission is to deal directly with the owner or operator of the flat rather than going through an intermediary. An estate agent's commission is usually around one month's rent, so you save several thousand crowns right at the start.
What an estate agent's commission is
The commission is the estate agency's fee for arranging the rental. It is paid by the tenant, the owner, or split between the two, and in practice it is often the tenant who pays. As a rough guide, it comes to around one month's rent.
In return for the commission, the agency usually handles the advertising, viewings, vetting of applicants and preparation of the lease. It is not an unlawful charge; it is just worth knowing in advance who pays it and what you get for it, so that it does not catch you out at the end.
The size of the commission varies by agency and region. In some places it is one month's rent, in others a part of it. It should always be clearly agreed in advance and stated in the brokerage agreement, so that you know exactly what you are paying for and how much.
How much the commission costs
The following rough example shows how the commission increases the initial costs for a flat with rent of CZK 7,900:
| Item | With commission | Without commission |
|---|---|---|
| First month's rent | CZK 7,900 | CZK 7,900 |
| Deposit | CZK 10,000 | CZK 10,000 |
| Agency commission (approx.) | approx. CZK 7,900 | CZK 0 |
| Initial outlay | approx. CZK 25,800 | CZK 17,900 |
The difference at the start is usually considerable. For a flat with rent of CZK 7,900, skipping the commission saves roughly one month's rent right at move-in. That is exactly why many people deliberately look for flats advertised as commission-free.
How to find a rental with no commission
The surest route is to deal directly with the owner or operator. There are several ways to track down that kind of offer:
- Look for listings explicitly marked as commission-free or direct from the owner.
- Follow the websites of specific residential projects that let their own flats.
- Ask around, as many rentals are arranged through personal recommendations.
- Contact operators of rental housing directly via their website or by phone.
Rezidence Pelikán is let directly through its operator, Anglický Resort, so tenants pay no estate agent's commission at all.
What to watch out for
The absence of a commission does not in itself make an offer a good one. Always check who you are dealing with and what you are signing:
- Never pay a deposit or reservation fee up front without a viewing and a lease.
- Verify the identity of the owner or company and their relationship to the flat.
- Be wary of offers with an unusually low price and pressure to decide quickly.
- Insist on a written lease and a handover report.
A healthy dose of caution always pays off. If something does not add up or someone is pushing you, check the offer again or walk away. An honest landlord will give you time to think it over and all the information you need, and will not stop you from looking round the flat at your leisure.
Renting directly from the operator
Renting directly from the operator has advantages beyond saving the commission. You deal with the people who manage the flat, so any repairs and all communication are handled in one place. A professional operator usually has a clearly set-out lease and clear rules.
At Rezidence Pelikán everything is handled by Anglický Resort, which has been in the market for 25 years and manages hundreds of units. Rent for a one-room flat (1+kk) starts at CZK 7,900 a month, with no commission, and viewings are ongoing.
Why people look for commission-free rentals
Interest in commission-free rentals has grown in recent years. The reason is simple: tenants want to keep their costs under control and not pay thousands of crowns extra for brokering that, with a direct rental, they can handle themselves. With smaller flats, where the budget is tighter, the commission saved makes a big difference. That is why the words 'no commission' have become one of the most common filters when searching for a home.
Direct rental has other practical sides too:
- You communicate directly with whoever owns or manages the flat.
- Repairs and maintenance are dealt with in one place, with no middleman.
- The terms tend to be clearly defined and stable for the whole term of the lease.
That does not mean dropping your guard, though. Even with a direct rental, the lease should be in writing, a viewing goes without saying, and money is only sent once all the terms have been agreed.