Fond Českého Bydlení SICAV, a fund specialising in residential rental housing, is launching a retail sub-fund that opens its investment strategy to a broader group of individual investors. The minimum investment is CZK 500, with an expected average annual return of around 6–8%. Since 2024, the fund has increased the value of its real estate portfolio fivefold to CZK 2.7 billion, and following the completion of a current acquisition, the portfolio is expected to approach CZK 3 billion. The number of residential units under management has grown to 1,100, while the number of investors has risen by almost 80% to 1,660. Investors who have been with the fund since its establishment in 2018 have seen a cumulative return of 84.18%.
"The launch of the retail fund is a logical next step in our long-term strategy. Individual investors have been approaching us for some time with an interest in investing in rental housing, and we can now offer them this opportunity through a fund specifically designed for this group," said Jakub Kořínek, co-founder of Fond Českého Bydlení.
Fond Českého Bydlení currently owns 48 properties across the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany. The acquisition of a portfolio of 25 residential buildings in Saxony and Bavaria has extended the fund's presence into the German residential market and further diversified its rental income. "Our ambition is not to grow at any cost. We look for markets where we can leverage our experience in regional rental housing and where the relationship between acquisition prices and rental yields makes long-term economic sense. Germany is a logical next step for us," said Tomáš Novák, co-founder of Fond Českého Bydlení.
The fund was established in 2018 with a focus on regional rental housing, investing in residential properties in locations with growing employment, good transport links and stable rental demand. In addition to rental income, it seeks to create further value through renovations, change-of-use projects and development. "The new retail fund builds on our experience with regional rental housing and allows investors to get started with as little as CZK 500. It makes this opportunity accessible to people who want to build their savings gradually over time," said Lucie Procházková, Chief Commercial Officer at Fond Českého Bydlení.
Demand for rental housing across the Czech Republic and Europe is supported by high home purchase prices, younger generations' preference for flexibility and declining affordability of home ownership in larger cities. According to Eurostat, 31.6% of the EU population lived in rented housing in 2024, compared with approximately one quarter of the population in the Czech Republic. The fund is administered and managed by CODYA Investment Company, a.s.
