September the 14th, 2026 – New rental rules are set to come into force in Croatia as of January the 1st, 2027. It would provide protections for both tenants and landlords.
The Croatian Government is currently busy preparing a new Law on the Rental of Apartments that aims to more clearly regulate relations between tenants and landlords, limit arbitrary rent increases, and speed up eviction procedures when a contract is not respected. The new law is expected to enter into force on the 1st of January 2027. Index reports that one of the main reasons for adopting the new law is the strong growth in the number of long-term rental contracts. According to current data, their number has risen from 100,000 to 240,000 in the last six years, that’s almost two and a half times.
rent can only be increased once per year
One of the more important novelties is the restriction on rent increases. Under the proposal, rent could be raised only once a year, and the increase could not exceed the rate of growth in residential property prices. It has been stated that this rate currently stands between 14 and 15 percent this year. The goal, it was explained, is to give tenants greater legal certainty and prevent situations in which the rental price is changed arbitrarily or without clear rules.
notaries will be needed for rental contracts
The new law also envisages the mandatory conclusion of contracts before a notary public. This way, both parties would be more clearly informed of their rights and obligations, and the contracts would also contain enforceable clauses. This should enable faster action in the event of a breach of contract, without lengthy court proceedings. State Secretary Željko Uhlir said that if eviction becomes necessary, it would proceed according to clearly prescribed deadlines and steps. First there would be a warning, and if that produced no result, an enforcement procedure based on the solemnised contract would follow.
the landlord bears the cost
According to the state secretary, the cost of solemnising any rental contract would be borne solely by the landlord. Uhlir said such a procedure would have multiple benefits: the notary would familiarise both parties with the provisions of the contract, the security of both the tenant and the landlord would increase, and the contract would be directly linked to the Tax Administration.
easier eviction procedures for contract violations
The new law should at the same time increase security for apartment owners. One of the problems landlords often highlight is the length of the procedure for evicting a tenant who does not respect the contract. According to Uhlir, the new law introduces clear deadlines and procedures, and the contract would be enforceable without the need for prior court proceedings. This should significantly speed up eviction in cases where the legal conditions for it exist.
cracking down on the rental black market
A major problem remains unregistered long-term rentals. It has been stated that the Croatian Government wants to increase the number of legally registered contracts and link the rental system with the Tax Administration. Uhlir said that the introduction of the real-estate tax has already prompted some owners who were on the black market to legalise their rentals. He also noted that from 2024 to 2025 the number of rental contracts increased by 75,000.
The report also stressed that a greater supply of apartments for rent cannot be achieved without protecting property owners. Experts have clearly warned that an owner who fears they will not be able to regain the property within the agreed time or under the agreed conditions will either factor that risk into the price or withdraw the apartment from the market altogether. The new law should soon enter the regular parliamentary procedure and is planned to enter into force on the 1st of January, 2027.
