Getting your rental deposit back in Prague: a practical guide for expats

The security deposit (kauce or jistota) in Czechia is capped at three months' rent, and your landlord must settle and return it without undue delay after the tenancy ends. Deductions are only allowed for actual debts — unpaid rent, utilities — and documented damage beyond normal wear and tear.

What counts as normal wear and tear

Faded paint, furniture marks on the floor, a worn carpet path, aged silicone in the bathroom — that's the landlord's cost of doing business, not yours. What can legitimately come out of your deposit: broken fixtures, burns and stains, missing inventory, a flat left genuinely dirty.

Step by step if the deposit isn't coming back

1. Written request. E-mail works. State the tenancy end date, ask for the deposit to a specific account within 14 days, and request an itemized breakdown of any deductions with receipts.
2. Challenge vague deductions. "Cleaning and repairs, 8,000 CZK" with no receipts doesn't hold up. Landlords often drop claims once you push back in writing.
3. Bring your evidence. The handover protocol (předávací protokol) from move-in and move-out decides most disputes — plus dated photos and all communication.
4. Pre-action letter and court. A formal pre-action notice (předžalobní výzva) is required before suing and often works by itself. Court fees for small claims are modest, and late deposits accrue statutory interest.

Protect yourself at handover

Always insist on a written, signed handover protocol with meter readings, key counts, an inventory with condition notes, and photos. If your landlord "doesn't do paperwork", write one yourself, sign it, and send it by e-mail so there's a record. No document means your word against theirs — and you're the one whose money is being held.