Do you know what you are entitled to as a tenant? Even in a rented apartment you can have a pet or a permanent residence – News

Thanks to the high demand for rental housing, some landlords put conditions in their leases that are not actually supported by law. “The ban on pets is among the most common mistakes. As part of our work, we of course warn the owner of illegal actions, and it is in our interest to ensure that not only the rights of the owner are respected, but also those of the tenant,” points out Jan Martina from the M&M Reality company. He further adds: “Owners usually include a note about pets in the contract due to fear of furnishing the apartment. But there is nothing easier than renting an apartment unfurnished or negotiating with tenants with pets, for example, a higher deposit.’

Of course, living in a rental with a pet has two sides. In addition to the right to live in an apartment with a pet, the tenant, of course, has the obligation to ensure that his animal does not restrict the other roommates in the house, for example by making noise, that it does not devastate not only the common areas, but also his own rental apartment.

One of the ways to reach a mutual agreement between the tenant and the tenant is, for example, to take the pet with you on a tour of the property, so that the landlord can get an idea for himself. Another option is to ask about the experience of the tenant and his pet at his previous landlord.

One of the widespread myths in the area of ​​rents is also the idea that a rental apartment cannot be registered as a permanent residence. But that is not true. “If you have a signed rental agreement, no one can prevent you from establishing a permanent residence in the apartment. Owners often like to add addendums to contracts prohibiting the transfer of permanent residence. However, they are not valid. After all, when you come to the office to apply for permanent residence, you need an extract from the real estate cadastre to prove ownership of the apartment and a rental agreement that proves that you can live in the given property,” explains Viktor Mejzlík from the Guaranteed Rent service.

Even in this case, the tenant has the right and the obligation at the same time. Once he moves, he must cancel his permanent residence in the original lease and re-register it at the new address. “If you don’t do this, the landlord has the right to go to the office and present a new tenancy agreement, proving that you are no longer in their property. However, I personally recommend that you negotiate with the landlord and, if he does not want it for some reason, respect his wishes. This will prevent disputes and a possible premature search for a new home,” recommends Mejzlík.

Other mistakes include the belief of some landlords that they have the option of terminating the tenant at virtually any time. However, that is not true. In the case of an indefinite-term contract, the notice period is three months, while it is necessary for the apartment owner to inform the tenant of his intention to terminate the contract in advance.

The exception is, of course, the situation when the tenant violates the lease agreement in a particularly serious way, for example by not paying the rent for at least three months, by damaging the apartment or house, or by causing other difficulties, either to the owner of the property or to roommates. In such a case, the landlord must notify the tenant of the problems and ask him to remedy the situation and warn him of possible termination. Only if the tenant’s behavior does not improve can the termination be proceeded with, and then within 30 days at the latest.

Again, on the other hand, the tenant also has the right to terminate the lease, also outside of the contractually agreed three months. This is in the event that, during the lease, he encounters a hidden defect in the property, which the owner did not warn him about and concealed.

No one likes the idea of ​​a landlord who bothers his tenants with constant visits under the pretext of checking his property. In fact, the tenant is obliged to make the rented property available to the owner only in a situation where it is expedient, i.e. primarily when he wants to make sure that the apartment is used in accordance with the rental agreement. The logical reason is then maintenance or repair. However, they must always notify the tenant of their visit in advance. He is definitely not authorized to enter the apartment arbitrarily, without the presence of the tenant. In such a case, he may be committing the crime of trespassing.

The exception is, of course, urgent situations such as a fire, water leak, etc. “Especially in cases of emergency or a situation where you yourself lose the keys by accident, it is useful if the owner has the keys to the apartment. But if you would like to change the locks in the apartment and be sure that the owner does not get into the apartment, you have every right to do so,” adds Jan Martina.

In any case, it is advisable and also the easiest to clarify all the rules about the use of the property at the very beginning in the lease agreement, for which it is good to take enough time to study carefully and not to sign anything in a hurry. It is ideal if the lessor and the person interested in renting meet in person and both check whether they “get along” with each other. According to the experience of real estate brokers, this interpersonal chemistry is ultimately one of the surest indicators for concluding rental contracts. “Keep in mind that first impressions make a lot of difference. It can also tell you whether the prospect arrived on time or if you had to wait for him. Always clarify the price and other rental conditions on the spot. As soon as you have a serious interested party, check it both in the insolvency register, in which debtors are kept, and in the Central Record of Executions,” concludes Viktor Mejzlík.