Renting a home

Service charge advances (zálohy na služby)

In Czech: Zálohy na služby

Service charge advances (zálohy na služby) are monthly payments a tenant makes on top of rent for heating, water, the lift, cleaning of common areas and similar services. They are settled after each billing period.

Also called: service charges, utility advances, poplatky, zálohy na služby

What it means

Service charge advances (zálohy na služby) are interim payments for services linked to living in the flat that are arranged by the landlord, the owners' association (SVJ) or a housing cooperative. They are advances, not a final price: once per billing period the real costs are calculated and the tenant either pays the difference or gets an overpayment back. Czech listings often simply call them poplatky (charges).

How it works in the Czech Republic

Act No. 67/2013 Coll. lists the typical services in § 3: in particular the supply of heat and hot water, water supply and sewage, operation of the lift, lighting and cleaning of common areas, reception of radio and TV signal, operation and cleaning of chimneys and municipal waste collection. The exact list and the amount of each advance should be agreed in the lease.

Electricity and gas for the flat itself are often paid by the tenant directly to a supplier under their own contract, but sometimes the landlord passes them on. So ask what exactly the monthly payment covers. The billing period lasts at most twelve months, after which the tenant receives a settlement. This describes the law as of October 2026; an amendment takes effect on 1 January 2027, so check the current wording.

Practical example

For example, a tenant pays CZK 17,000 rent and CZK 3,800 in service advances, part for heating and hot water, part for water and the rest for the lift, cleaning and waste. Electricity is on the tenant's own contract with a supplier. If the tenant heats more in winter, the monthly advances stay the same and the difference appears only in the settlement.

What to watch out for

  • Ask for a breakdown of the advances by service.
  • Ask how the last settlement for the flat turned out and request a copy.
  • Clarify whether electricity and gas are included or paid separately by you.
  • Low advances look attractive in a listing but can lead to a large balance to pay.
  • Write down the meter readings when you move in.

Frequently asked questions

What do service charge advances usually cover?

Typically heating and hot water, cold water and sewage, the lift, lighting and cleaning of common areas, waste collection or TV signal. Act No. 67/2013 Coll. gives these as examples; the lease sets the actual list.

Why pay advances if there is a settlement anyway?

Advances spread the costs into monthly payments. The settlement then compares what you paid with the real costs and the difference is evened out.

Are electricity and gas included in the advances?

Not always. Many tenants have their own contract with an energy supplier, so check the lease and ask the landlord before you sign.

On Lovec-Realit.cz

  • Service charge settlement (vyúčtování služeb)A service charge settlement (vyúčtování služeb) is the statement in which the provider compares the advances paid for a billing period with the actual costs of heating, water and other services. The result is a refund or a balance to pay.
  • Rent (nájemné)Rent (nájemné) is the regular payment a tenant makes to the landlord for the use of a flat or house. Charges for services such as heating or water are usually added separately as monthly advances.
  • Lease agreement (nájemní smlouva)A lease agreement (nájemní smlouva) is the contract under which a landlord lets a flat or house to a tenant for temporary use in exchange for rent. Residential leases in Czechia are governed by the Civil Code.
  • Owners' association (SVJ)An owners' association (SVJ, společenství vlastníků jednotek) is a legal entity that flat owners set up to manage the building and its land. It must be formed in a building with at least five units, at least four of them owned by four different owners.
  • Handover protocol (předávací protokol)A handover protocol (předávací protokol) is a written record of handing a property over to a new owner or tenant. It notes the date, the condition of the flat or house, meter readings, keys and documents handed over and any defects.

Sources

Laws and official pages this text is based on (in Czech).

This text is for information only and has not yet been checked by a legal or financial expert. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Verify important details in the listed sources or with a professional.

Updated 25 October 2026

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