An update of the amounts a tenant is required to pay out of their own pocket for routine maintenance and minor repairs connected with the use of the flat had been on the cards for quite some time. The limit of 1,000 Kč per individual repair, which had been in force since 2015, reflected neither inflation nor the current situation on the market for tradespeople.
Cheaper tradespeople are a thing of the past
Anyone who has looked for someone to carry out necessary repairs in Prague in recent years knows all too well how difficult it would be to find a tradesperson willing to travel to a particular property and start work for such an amount at all. Even with repairs carried out DIY-style, the limit came up against ever-rising material prices. The Ministry therefore originally proposed doubling it to 2,000 Kč, but in the end opted for a compromise and set the new threshold at 1 500 Kč, effective from 1 January 2026.
Finding a capable and affordable tradesperson or “handyman” is often a struggle
The introduction of an automatic indexation mechanism was also considered for a long time; it would have worked much like the one for electronic motorway vignettes. The limit would then have been increased regularly every year based on inflation data measured by the Czech Statistical Office. In the end, however, this option did not make it through. The new solution therefore still lacks a systemic character. It is important to mention that this limit is set directly by the relevant regulation of the outgoing government, so the approval of the newly constituted Chamber of Deputies is not required.
Overall annual limit for repairs
Especially in older flats, it often happens that repairs are needed rather more frequently than less. The law takes such cases into account as well and sets an overall annual limit on the tenant’s costs related to minor repairs and routine maintenance.
The threshold for repairs paid by the tenant will be of interest above all to those renting out a fully furnished flat in an older building
Under the new regulation, this limit has been raised from the original 100 Kč per rented square metre of the property’s floor area to 150 Kč. For a typical rental flat with a 2+kk layout and a floor area of 50 square metres, you would now pay for repairs up to a total of 7,500 Kč in a single calendar year. At the same time, however, the second limit must also be taken into account, so this would amount to 5 repairs at 1 500 Kč each (or more smaller ones). Any further costs are then borne by the property owner themselves. Finally, it is worth recalling that it is always more than advisable to obtain valid accounting documents for all work carried out and likewise to present the flat’s owner with receipts and invoices for materials. This is the only way to prove the actual amount of money spent on the repairs carried out and to arrive together at a settlement that is fair to both parties. The precise definition of the terms routine maintenance and minor repairs can be found either in the relevant government regulation, or you can read our separate article published last year on who pays for repairs in a rented flat. Do you want to rent out your vacant flat but feel that the related paperwork will make your head spin? Consider entrusting your property to an experienced manager who will handle all the formalities for you. You can then enjoy the agreed rent, which we collect on your behalf, without any worries about paperwork or occupancy. For more information about FLAT SERVICE services, call +420 277 000 330 or write to sales@flatservice.cz.
