Late payment interest (úrok z prodlení)
Late payment interest is an amount on top of a debt that you can claim for a late payment, provided the statutory conditions are met. In a tenancy, it typically applies to unpaid rent. It is not the same as a contractual penalty. The statutory rate depends on when the delay began.
Also known as: late payment interest, statutory interest, rent penalty, late rent
How the statutory rate is set
Unless you validly agree on a different rate, the statutory rate applies. It is based on the Czech National Bank’s two-week repo rate on the first day of the half-year in which the delay began, plus eight percentage points. For the same ongoing debt, the rate is not recalculated every six months. Government Regulation No. 351/2013 Coll., § 2.
For delays starting in the first half of 2026, the rate works out at 11.50% per year. For delays starting in the second half of 2026, it is 11.75% per year. On 19 June, the Czech National Bank raised its repo rate from 3.50% to 3.75%, and this rate was still in force on 1 July. Czech National Bank historical data.
Check the debt and the due date first
Before calculating interest, make sure the amount is genuinely owed and check when it fell due. Also check whether any partial payment has come in since. With service charge statements, delivery of the statement also matters, as do any errors that affected the size of the shortfall. The conditions for the claim are set out in § 1970 of the Civil Code.
A worked example: A debt of 20,000 Kč that has fallen due remains unpaid for 30 days, and the delay began in September 2026. At the statutory rate of 11.75%, the approximate interest comes to 193.15 Kč: 20,000 × 0.1175 × 30 / 365. This is not a monthly rate of 11.75%.
If several rent payments are unpaid, assess each instalment and the start of its delay separately. Alongside the amount, state the period and the rate used so the calculation can be checked. Have any arrangement that departs from the statutory rules assessed separately, especially in a residential tenancy, where tenants enjoy extra legal protection.
A payment reminder should include a clear breakdown of the debt, the due date and any interest. That is why you should also tell your property manager about any payments made directly to you or any agreed changes. Otherwise, they may end up chasing an amount that has already been paid.
Sources checked on 13/09/2026. A general explanation does not replace a review of your specific contract or individual legal or tax advice.
← Back to the glossaryWould you like a rental without worries?
We take care of tenants, contracts, payment monitoring and repairs. In a free consultation we go through your flat and recommend how to set the management up.