When Is a Lease Agreement Really “Okay”?

A valid lease agreement must meet certain legal requirements—without them, it may be unenforceable or even null and void. By law, it must always be in writing. Otherwise, it cannot be enforced in court. At the same time, it shouldn’t include excessive or unreasonable clauses that courts might consider invalid.

A good lease agreement should be clear, understandable, and balanced for both parties.

Most common mistakes:

• Missing accurate description of the leased property (apartment, rooms, share of common areas)

• No clear identification of the landlord and tenant

• Missing clauses about handover, deposit amount and return terms, or notice period

• No agreement on utilities or minor repairs

Should I Use a Free Online Template?

The internet is full of “free templates.” But most of them:

• Do not reflect current legal regulations,

• Are either too generic or overly complicated,

• Do not take your specific situation into account.

While a template may serve as inspiration, it should always be customized—ideally with legal help.

Real-Life Example

A landlord downloaded a lease agreement from the internet. After a year, he wanted to terminate the lease because he decided to sell the flat. But the agreement didn’t include proper termination reasons. The notice was invalid, and the tenant remained in the apartment for another three months until the matter was resolved in court. In the meantime, the tenant stopped paying rent, causing over CZK 40,000 in damage.

Advice from a Lawyer

If you’re planning to rent out a property—or rent one yourself—don’t cut corners when it comes to the lease agreement. Free templates often don’t reflect current law or your specific situation. A well-drafted agreement protects both sides and can save you years of legal disputes.