New rental rules: mandatory notarization of contracts and annual cap on rent increases
Minister Bačić on Friday announced a set of housing regulations including a new Tenancy Act, an affordable housing program, and help with buying a first home.
Minister Bačić on Friday announced a set of housing regulations including a new Tenancy Act, an affordable housing program, and help with buying a first home.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for spatial planning, construction and state property Branko Bačić presented details of the new Tenancy Act on Friday, 31 July 2026. The regulation is the centrepiece of a package through which the government continues implementing the National Housing Policy Plan until 2030, and, as Dulist and OG Portal Ogulin report, it aims to increase legal security for both landlords and tenants.
According to information from OG Portal Ogulin, all future lease agreements will have to be concluded in the form of a notarial deed, i.e. notarized by a public notary. This means that in the event of a dispute, enforcement, whether for eviction or collection, will be possible without lengthy litigation. Proceedings should be resolved twice as fast as before.
The new law also introduces a mandatory handover report with photographs of the apartment, as well as more precisely defined duties for both contracting parties. Dnevnik.hr stresses that landlords will no longer be able to raise prices arbitrarily.
Rents will be allowed to increase at most once a year, and only if announced in advance and aligned with movements in residential property prices. Procedures for terminating contracts are also prescribed, both in cases of tenant breach and for reasons independent of the tenant's fault, with minimum deadlines for eviction.
As Dulist learns, a new role has been introduced for the Agency for Workers' Claims Insurance. Under certain conditions, this institution could compensate landlords for unpaid rents and utility bills.
In addition to the law, measures to continue the Affordable Rent Program were presented. Its purpose is to activate as many vacant housing units as possible for long-term rental at prices that fit household budgets. The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and State Property reported that the first public call attracted 958 apartment owners and 1,315 prospective tenants.
