Housing affordability in Prague is considered one of the city’s biggest problems by its residents. A new survey by STEM/MARK for the Strategeo Institute and the Prague Agenda project shows that four out of five Prague residents view the current situation negatively. The greatest support is for the construction of municipal housing, the use of brownfield sites, and cooperation between the city and developers.
Research available for download here
Prague Residents Give Housing Almost a “Four”
A total of 79% of respondents rated housing affordability as poor, with the average rating reaching 4.2 on a school grading scale from one to five. Interestingly, this view is shared by almost all age and education groups.
Who Is Responsible for Unaffordable Housing?
Prague residents do not see a single culprit. They most often attribute responsibility to owners of investment apartments (35%), followed by Prague City Hall (33%) and the state or government (32%). Developers received 24% of responses.
People Want Municipal Housing and Cooperation with Developers
Cooperation between the city and developers received the greatest confidence in addressing the housing crisis (36%), followed by municipal districts (26%).
When it comes to specific housing measures, the preferences are even clearer:
- 61% support the construction of municipal rental housing,
- 50% want more starter apartments for young people,
- 32% support affordable housing developed in cooperation with developers.
Build, Yes – But Smartly
Brownfields and unused industrial sites were identified by 58% of Prague residents as the best locations for new construction. Another 44% would support the conversion of office buildings, while 30% of respondents chose construction on the outskirts of the city.
At the same time, the familiar “not in my backyard” effect is also evident. The biggest concerns about new construction are the loss of green space (61%), increased traffic (53%), and worsening parking conditions (43%).
Most People Wouldn’t Know Where to Turn for Help
The conclusion of the survey also revealed a practical problem: 68% of Prague residents would not know where to turn if they had difficulty maintaining their housing. One-third of respondents therefore support the creation of a contact point at municipal district offices, while even more people would welcome assistance in finding suitable housing.
About the Survey
The survey was conducted by STEM/MARK using the online CAWI method on a representative sample of 515 Prague residents over the age of 18. Data was collected from 13–18 August 2026 for the Strategeo Institute and the Prague Agenda project.