THE PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR (PRS) refers to a segment of the housing market where residential properties are owned by private or institutional landlords and rented out to tenant occupiers. This sector plays a crucial role in providing housing options for individuals and families who do not own their homes and are not eligible for social housing. As such, the sector is a critical component of the overall housing market, providing essential housing solutions for a significant portion of the population, helping to meet the demand for housing in urban areas, supporting labour mobility, and offering alternatives to home ownership and social housing.
In the Czech Republic, homeownership has long been preferred, with around 78% of households owning their homes (Census 2021 data). The majority of rental properties are owned by private individuals and consist of apartments that were originally designed for sale rather than rent. These apartments are mostly located in standard residential buildings where tenants and homeowners live side by side.
Modern Built-to-Rent (BTR) stock is primarily developing in larger Czech regional cities, particularly in Prague, where this sector has seen substantial growth since 2017.