A Latvian rental agreement — the contract between a landlord (iznomātājs) and tenant (īrnieks) governing the right to occupy residential or commercial property.
An īres līgums (rental agreement) in Latvia is governed by the Civil Law and, for residential tenancies, the Law on Residential Tenancy. The agreement sets out the rent amount, payment dates, deposit, duration, and the obligations of both landlord and tenant.
Residential tenancies in Latvia have strong tenant protections. A landlord cannot evict a tenant without a court order except in very limited circumstances such as non-payment of rent or material breach. Notice periods are set by law and cannot be reduced by contract.
The rental agreement for a fixed term of more than one year should be registered with the Zemesgrāmata to be effective against third parties, including a new owner who acquires the property during the tenancy. Without registration a new owner is not bound by the tenancy.
A security deposit (drošības nauda) is standard practice. By law it cannot exceed three months' rent for residential tenancies. The landlord must return it within one month of the tenancy ending, minus any justified deductions for damage or unpaid rent.
Foreign nationals renting in Latvia should ensure the agreement is in a language they understand. If the signed version is in Latvian only, obtaining a certified translation protects the tenant in any future dispute about the terms.
Only if the agreement expressly permits it and the method of calculation is specified. Unilateral rent increases without contractual authority are not enforceable.
For a fixed-term agreement, notice as specified in the contract. For open-ended agreements, the Law on Residential Tenancy sets minimum notice periods, typically one to three months depending on the length of tenancy.
Verbal agreements are legally valid for tenancies up to one year. For longer periods a written agreement is required. In practice, always insist on a written agreement regardless of duration.
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