Landlords Prefer Student Renters?

Rain trickles down off the gutters as George Kafka looks out upon his gorgeous view overlooking the Vltava River.

Inside, books flutter on the shelves, and pictures of grandchildren illuminate the walls. From the kitchen the smell of apricot cobbler and fresh espresso dry us from the rain.

George walks over to the dining room table and sits down.

He's a stout, stocky man with an old, weary voice; his hands are withered rough from years of operating machinery. They also held the controls of planes in World War II.

“My parents sent me and my brother to England in 1939 to fight in the war; they said it was to save our lives.” George flew planes for the RAF until 1945.

He made a life for himself in England and didn’t come back to Prague until 1990, after the passing of his wife.

It was then that George met the sharp and beautiful Helena Machacova. She was born and raised in Prague; she was a practicing physician and a university lecturer. “He met me and couldn’t resist,” Helena says with a smile.

After decades in their professions, George and Helena decided to buy a flat and rent out rooms to support themselves through retirement. The idea was that they could live the rest of their lives without another day of work. “A new way to make a living,” as Helena describes.

George and Helena rent space to a variety of people. “Each summer the Austrian national kayak team stays with us,” she explains. “They come every summer for the World Cup or Euro championship - next summer they will stay and train for Olympics.”

Around five or six years ago the retired couple decided to contact local universities about renting a room to students. “We phoned around a few schools and a relationship started,” Helena says as she plates me again.

George explains that, while they’ve never had any serious problems with student renters, “a couple years ago we had a few students who were taking drugs and made a mess of the garden, and some drink a lot and sometime make a mess, but no real problems other then the occasional noise complaint from neighbors who have to wake up early for work.”

Helena describes how she still keeps in contact with former student renters. “We keep in touch by writing letters; two students actually came back and visited us,” Helena says
with a smile. "It’s nice to keep in touch."

The couple plans on renting to students until the next turn in life - or “Indefinitely,” George says quickly with a laugh.

Outside, the rain continues to pour, but inside, a feeling of ease is pleasantly felt as they split one more piece of delicious cobbler.