The Prague City Hall wants to rent apartments that their owners have so far offered for short-term rent, writes yesterday’s Hospodářské noviny (HN). Following the example of Lisbon, the capital wants to expand its housing stock and at the same time gain the opportunity to reduce Airbnb-type services. In the first phase, Prague wants to acquire 50 flats that would serve seniors or people from shelters.
The plan to rent apartments from private owners is in an advanced stage of preparation. “We would like to discuss the launch of a pilot project at the capital council in April,” Adam Zábranský (Pirates) of Prague’s housing councilor told HN, adding that the city will probably not be looking for flats in the city center at first.
The city plans to spend ten million crowns on rentals in the first year. He expects that in the first year the program will end with a loss of five million crowns, in the future it should reach zero.
In recent years, Prague has been facing a housing crisis and ever-increasing housing prices. There are about 31,500 flats owned by the municipality and city districts in the capital, out of the original number of 194,000, which after 1991 became the property of the city. Privatizations have reduced the city fund by more than 80 percent.
Earlier this week, Prague councilors approved a housing strategy that envisages the construction of at least 500 new city apartments a year by 2030. The city plans to strengthen its own construction and also work with private individuals, whether developers, construction cooperatives or smaller civil society. associations. Representatives will discuss the strategy next week.
Source: CTK and Hospodářské noviny
