3 Tips for Finding a House/Flat to Rent in Brno and Surroundings - The Easy Guide for New and Not So New Expats
Before even thinking to start typing an email to that real estate agency for renting a place in Brno, take the time to sit back and relax for a little. To think. What are you searching for?
How do you choose and find a place to rent in Brno? Here are my tips, feel free to add more to your own list or use them as a starting point:
1. First, plan your budget and state your maximum (not here on my blog but to your own attention and notes) - how much are you willing to pay for renting a place in Brno? Write the number down and take into consideration an 8-10 % yearly increase because of the energy recalculation that are counted every 12 months. It might be minus 8-10 %, for us it was always plus (we cook a lot at home, work from home and so on). To that, the landlord might increase yearly around 2% but that is always negotiable and must come with real improvements to the living space. Always try to negotiate
2. Brno is divided into 29 city districts - use online information like Google earth or better even mapy.cz to virtually visit them before choosing one:
3. Consider your needs: the age of your children, private day care needs, public schools, and shopping centers - for instance, we could not live in a place where rohlik.cz doesn't do deliveries. Think about your workplace and distance, imagine how you will commute and what other needs you and your family have like if you wish to stay long/short term and so on. Do you prefer a garden for kids to run and play? Maybe you like grilling or breeding chickens like we dream :). You know what I mean, take the time to consider all the needs and available options because is not nice then to have to move out.
Also, be strong and always ask for your rights and negotiate everything, this is repetition but I have to say it, many of the foreigners I met are scared and just accept everything...you know, this is a material world we're living, just be brave and stand up for yourself.
Good, now that I cleared some of the general aspects that you readers most probably already knew, I am just adding yet my personal note - based on knowledge and experience with this city, I could recommend as good neighborhoods for raising families with young children these districts (in no particular order):
Brno - Oresin - full of nature and forests, near a horse farm and just beautiful
Brno - Vinohrady - this changed so much since 2010 when it had a very grey, melancholic, light communist air. Today is just a romantic neighborhood, full of young families, lively colored flats and newly built parks with kids attractions
Brno - Ivanovice - nice forest trails and children parks, also nearby is a good quality Hypermarket called Globus - I guess you like good food from local farming and so this is good option to buy fresh good meat and not only
Brno - Bystric - maybe you like living close to natural ponds and Bystric dam, the Zoo. The neighborhood gets quite noisy and crowded during the warm season, but if you don't mind that, it might suit you.
Brno- Kralovo Pole - I put this on my list because it has so many things close and useful, many private daycares, clean and secure parks, child doctors, supermarkets. All neighborhoods have these things but I do see a preference among foreigners for this one as it has more of these facilities, I don't know why yet. Its proximity to IT companies might benefit new foreigners who wish to relocate their work in here
Brno - Kohoutovice - the natural reserve Odbora Holedna is close, many big parks nearby, walking trails for running and cyclists, it has also centered for swimming lessons for all ages and a lovely aqua park - I think is really the cleanest and most preferred among Brnesians (people of Brno, just made that word up now, please do say if you have a better one)
Brno Reckovice a Mokra Hora - we lived here for about 2 years before having kids, it really is so chic, small little modern area. Not sure if there are still flats available, but we think is a proper place for raising kids, commuting to work, having long nature walks, a little fish pond nearby. Just cool place for a young couple to live the early expat experience in Czech Republic.
Please do not take for granted all I wrote here, because Brno is so big and I for sure missed many of its regions. These are just the ones that I know, note there are native people living here for 25 years and still didn't have a chance to see all its regions and neighborhoods.
Also, you might also like the idea of living in the countryside (in Czech this is called Brno - venkov) - like we personally chose - a distant place from the city center and its noise. We also dream to move to Znojmo and start a small family farm there. Dreaming is for free :)
By a simple google search, you will be bombarded with all the support and help available to support foreigners for finding a place to rent. I encourage you to do so, use all information and whatever works for you and your family.
If you wish, feel free to reach me after you arrive in Brno, we can meet and have a chat. I am always happy to meet new people.
Thank you for reading & goodluck!
How do you choose and find a place to rent in Brno? Here are my tips, feel free to add more to your own list or use them as a starting point:
1. First, plan your budget and state your maximum (not here on my blog but to your own attention and notes) - how much are you willing to pay for renting a place in Brno? Write the number down and take into consideration an 8-10 % yearly increase because of the energy recalculation that are counted every 12 months. It might be minus 8-10 %, for us it was always plus (we cook a lot at home, work from home and so on). To that, the landlord might increase yearly around 2% but that is always negotiable and must come with real improvements to the living space. Always try to negotiate
2. Brno is divided into 29 city districts - use online information like Google earth or better even mapy.cz to virtually visit them before choosing one:
3. Consider your needs: the age of your children, private day care needs, public schools, and shopping centers - for instance, we could not live in a place where rohlik.cz doesn't do deliveries. Think about your workplace and distance, imagine how you will commute and what other needs you and your family have like if you wish to stay long/short term and so on. Do you prefer a garden for kids to run and play? Maybe you like grilling or breeding chickens like we dream :). You know what I mean, take the time to consider all the needs and available options because is not nice then to have to move out.
Also, be strong and always ask for your rights and negotiate everything, this is repetition but I have to say it, many of the foreigners I met are scared and just accept everything...you know, this is a material world we're living, just be brave and stand up for yourself.
Good, now that I cleared some of the general aspects that you readers most probably already knew, I am just adding yet my personal note - based on knowledge and experience with this city, I could recommend as good neighborhoods for raising families with young children these districts (in no particular order):
Brno - Oresin - full of nature and forests, near a horse farm and just beautiful
Brno - Vinohrady - this changed so much since 2010 when it had a very grey, melancholic, light communist air. Today is just a romantic neighborhood, full of young families, lively colored flats and newly built parks with kids attractions
Brno - Ivanovice - nice forest trails and children parks, also nearby is a good quality Hypermarket called Globus - I guess you like good food from local farming and so this is good option to buy fresh good meat and not only
Brno - Bystric - maybe you like living close to natural ponds and Bystric dam, the Zoo. The neighborhood gets quite noisy and crowded during the warm season, but if you don't mind that, it might suit you.
Brno- Kralovo Pole - I put this on my list because it has so many things close and useful, many private daycares, clean and secure parks, child doctors, supermarkets. All neighborhoods have these things but I do see a preference among foreigners for this one as it has more of these facilities, I don't know why yet. Its proximity to IT companies might benefit new foreigners who wish to relocate their work in here
Brno - Kohoutovice - the natural reserve Odbora Holedna is close, many big parks nearby, walking trails for running and cyclists, it has also centered for swimming lessons for all ages and a lovely aqua park - I think is really the cleanest and most preferred among Brnesians (people of Brno, just made that word up now, please do say if you have a better one)
Brno Reckovice a Mokra Hora - we lived here for about 2 years before having kids, it really is so chic, small little modern area. Not sure if there are still flats available, but we think is a proper place for raising kids, commuting to work, having long nature walks, a little fish pond nearby. Just cool place for a young couple to live the early expat experience in Czech Republic.
Please do not take for granted all I wrote here, because Brno is so big and I for sure missed many of its regions. These are just the ones that I know, note there are native people living here for 25 years and still didn't have a chance to see all its regions and neighborhoods.
Also, you might also like the idea of living in the countryside (in Czech this is called Brno - venkov) - like we personally chose - a distant place from the city center and its noise. We also dream to move to Znojmo and start a small family farm there. Dreaming is for free :)
By a simple google search, you will be bombarded with all the support and help available to support foreigners for finding a place to rent. I encourage you to do so, use all information and whatever works for you and your family.
If you wish, feel free to reach me after you arrive in Brno, we can meet and have a chat. I am always happy to meet new people.
Thank you for reading & goodluck!
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI glad I found your blog as it gives some usefull information to me as I'm going to relocate in Brno with my family soon :) Thank you.
I understand this is some personal thing but maybe you can advice which Brno region is more comfortable for a family living - my daughter is just one year old so I'm looking for some good place for living not very far from the center as I will work there. Maybe a place with some good parks around?
Hello, Alexander, glad to meet you. I think you will very much like living in the Brno-stred (Brno center) area. Near the center is Lužánky, the largest and most appreciated city park in Brno, so living near this park will pay off a lot, is a wonderful park to spend time with your little one and is close to your workplace. Also, there are many other small playgrounds nearby and a lot of coffee places with children play corner. Luzanky park is located in the Brno-střed District and if you wish, try to find a rent in this district and is within 25 min walk from city center.
DeleteAnother district that I can recommend is Brno-Kralovo Pole, very much appreciated by families with small kids and within fair vicinity to Brno city center. Depends also what you find available as these next weeks will be very crowded, many students will return to faculties and they all are in need for renting a place in Brno.
In the end, any district you will choose, rest assured, they all have some parks for spending time outside, most are in mint condition, safe and nicely renovated. Thank you for visit and goodluck with finding the right place for your needs!
Nice to meet you too! Thank you very much for this very useful info) I will check these districts in Google Maps then. Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteBuna!
ReplyDeleteSper din toata inima sa imi vezi mesajul si sa ma ajuti cu cateva sfaturi... Urmeaza sa ma mut in ianuarie pentru un job pe care l-am primit in Brno. Spune-mi, te rog, de ce se practica inchiriatul fara mobila? Ce face chiriasul in acest caz?
Care sunt costurile realiste la utilitati ptr o persoana? Pe site-uri am vazut ca variaza intre 2500 si 4000 de coroane...
Multumesc!
Simona I.
Buna Simona si felicitari pentru decizia de a te muta aici. Bine ai venit!
DeleteInchiriatul fara mobila este des intalnit pentru ca e mai comod pentru proprietari dar si din cauza ca sunt multi care doresc fara mobila. Noi din primul an am ales fara mobila si incet am cumparat tot. Chiriile nemobilate sunt si mai ieftine de obicei, chiriasul fiind responsabil sa isi cumpere mobila. Legat de gasitul mobilei, trebuie sa stii ca e destul de usor sa gasesti mobila aici - ieftina si de calitate - ori noua (la marile magazine gen IKEA, KIKA, ASKO, JYSK sunt in Brno) / ori 2nd hand de la alti chiriasi, straini care se muta (este in Brno un flux continuu de plecari veniri, multi straini, studenti se muta, vin ori please spre alte orase / tari si isi dau mobila, saltele, ustensile de bucatarie la preturi mici spre gratis. Asa ca ai de unde alege - sunt multe grupuri de vanzari-cumparari de astfel de lucruri pe Facebook (iti pot face o lista si cauti acolo tot ce ai de nevoie de la pat, cana pea pana al linguri si farfurii, haine, bilete de concert, orice vand pe aici comunitatea de xpati, oameni ca noi, angajati la corporatii, ori stundeti). Voi face probabil o postare separata doar despre acest subiect, daca crezi ca ar ajuta.
Costurile gasite de tine da sunt realiste: intre 2000-4000 czk / persoana, recalcularea se face anual si primesti inapoi sau platesti extra daca ai depasit aceasta suma, precalculata lunar.
Cred ca poti gasi si destule oferte de chirii mobilate, nu ar trebui sa fie o problema. Sper sa reusesti sa rezolvi si nu ezita oricand sa imi trimiti orice intrebari. Numai bine!