Renting out your own property may seem like a straightforward matter at first glance – all you need to do is take a few photos, write an advert and wait for prospective tenants to get in touch. In reality, however, the process is often more complicated, which is why more and more property owners choose to work with a real estate agency. Here are the main reasons why it pays to entrust the rental of your property to us.

1. Tenant Screening

One of the biggest risks associated with renting out a property is an unreliable tenant – whether that means unpaid rent, damage to the property or problems with neighbours. We have established procedures for screening prospective tenants and use several publicly available sources as part of our checks:

• the Czech Police database of wanted persons,
• the Insolvency Register and Central Register of Enforcement Proceedings (or ceecr.cz); for Slovak applicants, we also check the relevant Slovak insolvency register,
• verification of the applicant’s permanent address,
• the database of invalid identity documents,
• for self-employed applicants and business owners, verification of their company registration number (IČ), VAT payer status, subsidy registers and, where appropriate, justice.cz, which can also reveal suspiciously frequent changes of permanent address among company directors and owners.

If we have any doubts, we may also ask the applicant to provide proof of being debt-free, an employment contract, references from their employer and previous landlord (where they lived, for how long, why they are moving, their payment history and how they treated the property), or, where appropriate, an extract from the Criminal Register or a bank account statement. This significantly reduces the risk of ending up with a tenant who may then take months to remove from the property.

“I also personally check prospective tenants’ social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn), which can often reveal things you might otherwise overlook. For example, I once had an applicant claim during a viewing that they were a non-smoker, but photos on their social media profile suggested otherwise. This allowed us to avoid a potentially unpleasant situation before it ever arose.

Unlike the average property owner, I work in real estate every day. In addition to all the checks mentioned above, I therefore rely on my own judgement, refined through years of professional experience,” says real estate agent Pavel Zelenka.

2. A Properly Drafted Tenancy Agreement

A tenancy agreement should protect both parties. We know which clauses need to be included – such as the security deposit, notice periods, conditions for early termination and liability for damage – and we make sure the agreement complies with current legislation. An amateur agreement downloaded from the internet often contains gaps or weaknesses that only become apparent when a dispute arises.

3. Setting the Right Market Rent

Property owners often tend to either undervalue or overprice their property. In both cases, the result can be lost income or long months without a tenant. Because we work with the property market every day, we understand current rental prices for different locations and property types and can set the rent at a level that is both competitive and profitable.

“I remember a client who insisted on a high asking rent, and despite several viewings, the apartment remained vacant for a month. A simple calculation helped change his mind: a slightly lower rent that attracts a tenant within a month works out better in the long run than a high rent that leaves the property vacant for two or three months – because those vacant months effectively mean losing two or three months’ worth of rental income. Once the client calculated how much money the empty apartment was actually costing him, he agreed to lower the price, and I was able to rent the property out soon afterwards,” adds Pavel Zelenka.

4. Saving You Time

Handling phone calls, arranging viewings and answering prospective tenants’ questions can take dozens of hours, especially in attractive locations where demand is high. We take care of the entire process for you. This is particularly valuable for owners who work full-time, own several properties or have rental properties located far from where they live.

5. Professional Property Presentation

High-quality photographs, an engaging property description, a floor plan and advertising on the right property portals can significantly reduce the amount of time your apartment or house remains vacant. We know how to present a property so that it attracts attention, and we have access to advertising platforms that may not always be available to private landlords.

Pavel explains: “This is another area where I make use of the power of social media, targeting the advert directly at the relevant audience. For suitable properties, I often create video tours as well. This gives prospective tenants a much better idea of the property before arranging an in-person viewing, saving time for everyone involved.”

6. Support with Problems During the Tenancy

Our work does not end when the tenancy agreement is signed. Disputes over repairs, late payments or disagreements with tenants can arise during the tenancy. Even after the agreement has been signed, I remain available to support the property owner. We can advise you on how to handle a particular situation and, if problems arise, we know how to proceed from both a legal and practical perspective.

7. Legal Certainty

Rental legislation changes over time, and not every property owner is familiar with all current obligations – for example, record-keeping requirements, tax matters, security deposits, grounds for termination or obligations relating to the Foreign Police. We help you avoid mistakes that could result in fines or an invalid agreement.

Why Choose Our Real Estate Agency?

Instead of spending your time dealing with phone calls, viewings and paperwork, you gain an experienced partner who understands the market, knows what to look out for and makes sure the entire rental process runs smoothly – from advertising your property to signing the tenancy agreement. And in many cases, our support continues throughout the tenancy.

Thinking about renting out your property? Get in touch – I’ll be happy to discuss what working together could look like in your particular situation.

Real Estate Agent Pavel Zelenka

pavel.zelenka@stoneandbelter.cz

+420 721 108 285