Can a Landlord Unilaterally Increase the Rent?
Imagine you’ve been living in the same apartment for years. The rent is stable, you know exactly how much you pay each month, and you plan your budget accordingly. Then one day, you receive a letter: “From next month, the rent will increase by €80.” No discussion, no agreement. Can a landlord really do this? And if so, under what conditions?
This article is part of the large guide to lease agreements, where you can find more practical topics related to renting apartments, houses, and commercial spaces: read more
Clients often ask me: “Can my landlord raise the rent whenever they want?” or “Do I have to agree to it?” In practice, I see many misconceptions about rent increases, unilateral changes by the landlord, and tenant protection against unjustified rent hikes. The law sets clear rules – yet they are often ignored or misinterpreted.
What You’ll Learn in This Article
when a landlord can increase the rent
legal limits and procedures
how a rent increase should be carried out in practice
what happens if the tenant disagrees
common mistakes on both sides
What the Law Says
Under the Czech Civil Code, a landlord cannot unilaterally increase rent at any time and by any amount. There are three legal ways a rent increase can happen:
Agreement in the rental contract – if the contract contains a clear mechanism (e.g., indexation to inflation), the increase may be automatic.
Written proposal by the landlord – the landlord can propose an increase up to the legal limit (usually max. 20% over 3 years). The tenant must accept the proposal.
Court decision – if the tenant refuses, the landlord can ask the court to set the rent.
How a Rent Increase Should Work in Practice
If the contract does not contain a rent increase clause, the landlord must:
send a written proposal with the new amount and justification
respect the legal limit (usually 20% over 3 years)
give the tenant time to respond (usually 2 months)
If the tenant does not reply or refuses, the landlord may turn to the court.
Risks and Mistakes
💡 Lawyer’s Advice:
A common mistake landlords make is simply announcing a new amount without following the legal procedure – such an increase is invalid. On the other hand, tenants often ignore a proper proposal, risking a court dispute and having to pay legal costs.
Example from Practice
One client received an email saying her rent would go up by €120 starting next month. The contract had no clause on rent increases and the landlord had not followed the law. We sent him a formal notice quoting the legal procedure. As a result, the increase was withdrawn and later replaced with a smaller, lawful adjustment.
Summary
A landlord can unilaterally increase the rent only if:
the rental contract allows it, or
they follow the law and respect the limits,
otherwise, the increase is invalid.
Need Help?
If you’ve received a rent increase proposal and you’re unsure whether it’s lawful, I can review it, explain your options, and prepare a response – before the matter escalates to court.
Contact a legal professional – I specialize in contract law.
Learn more here.
- Publikováno:
- Naposledy aktualizováno: 08/08/2025
Where do I provide legal services?
I help clients across Prague, Central Bohemia, and South Bohemia. Here are a few selected locations:
🔹 Lawyer Prague 1
🔹 Lawyer Prague 6
🔹 Lawyer Příbram
🔹 Lawyer Nymburk
🔹 Lawyer České Budějovice
👉 See all locations here:
https://www.vejmelkova.cz/en/how-to-find-your-czech-lawyer/
Do you want to know more?
Can a Landlord Unilaterally Increase the Rent?
Print Imagine you’ve been living in the same apartment for years. The rent is stable, you know exactly how much you pay each month, and