If you’re renting an apartment in the Czech Republic, sooner or later something will break. A dripping tap. A loose door handle. A toilet that suddenly refuses to flush five minutes before guests arrive.

And that’s usually the moment when the big question pops up:

“Wait… who’s supposed to pay for this?”

Some landlords are convinced tenants should handle almost every repair themselves. Meanwhile, some tenants feel like they shouldn’t have to pay for anything at all.

Both sides can be pretty sure they’re right.
And both sides are usually… only half right.

The good news? Czech legislation is actually very clear about this. There are specific rules that define what counts as a minor repair and exactly when the tenant pays and when the landlord takes over.

Let’s break it down in simple terms.

What are “minor repairs”?

According to current legislation, the tenant is responsible for so-called minor repairs if the following conditions are met:

The cost of a single repair does not exceed CZK 1,500

This amount includes all related expenses — labour, materials, and transportation.

So it’s not just the price of a part. It’s the full cost of getting it fixed.

If several interventions concern the same item (for example, replacing a toilet seal followed by repairing the flush), they are considered one repair and the costs are added together.
If the total exceeds CZK 1,500, the repair is paid by the landlord.

Repairs to different items (such as a door handle and a sink siphon) are assessed separately.

The annual limit is CZK 150 per m² of floor area

There’s also a yearly cap on how much a tenant can be asked to pay in total.

The limit is CZK 150 per square meter per year.

For example, in a 100 m² apartment, the annual limit is CZK 15,000.

Up to this amount, minor repairs are paid by the tenant.
Once the limit is exceeded, further repairs are covered by the landlord.

What does this mean in practice?

Think of it like this:

Small, everyday fixes → tenant
Bigger or more expensive issues → landlord

If one repair is cheap enough and you’re still under your yearly limit, you cover it.
If the repair is too expensive or you’ve already reached the yearly cap, it becomes the landlord’s responsibility.

It’s meant to keep things fair — tenants handle normal wear and tear, while landlords take care of larger investments into the property.

Respect the Apartment

Losing your deposit (or “kauce” in Czech) is no fun. But do you know what? It’s quite simple to avoid it. Let’s look at some of the key aspects how to be a good neighbour and tenant to prevent any issues. Just because you pay rent doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want in the apartment. Treat it like it was yours and respect the place. Make sure not to cause any damage to the furniture, walls, and floors, as they are expensive to repair. Use coaster for hot cups and pots, use ashtrays for cigarette butts and whatch out for door frames when moving furniture from one room to another.

Would you like to hang an extra shelf or do any other adjustments? Double-check with the apartment owner whether it’s allowed before doing so.

A friendly tip at the end

To avoid awkward conversations or misunderstandings, it’s always a good idea to:

• keep receipts

• inform your landlord before making repairs

• and track how much you’ve already paid during the year

A little communication can save a lot of stress (and money).

If you’re ever unsure, checking the limits above gives you a solid starting point — and helps you stand your ground with confidence.