Finding an Apartment in Latvia: Tenant Checklist

Renting a flat in Latvia is straightforward when the paperwork is clear. Most expensive problems begin before move-in: the person taking the payment cannot show why they are entitled to rent out the property, the agreement does not explain utility charges, or the condition of the apartment is never recorded.

The safest approach is to slow the process down before you transfer money. Confirm who you are dealing with, read the written agreement, calculate the full monthly cost and document the apartment as it is handed over to you.

Before you pay anything

Complete these checks before sending a reservation payment, deposit or first month’s rent:

View the apartment in person, or arrange a live video viewing if you cannot be there.
Ask for the landlord’s full name and contact details.
Check the property in Latvia’s official Land Register.
If the person signing is not the owner, ask for proof that they are entitled to rent out the apartment or act for the owner.
Read the complete agreement, including annexes and house rules.
Ask for recent utility bills from both a colder and a warmer month.
Make sure every payment has a stated purpose and can be documented.

The landlord under Latvia’s Residential Tenancy Law may be the owner or another person who is legally entitled to let the property. This is why an ownership check is useful but does not replace checking the authority of the person named in the agreement.

A written rental agreement is essential

Under Latvia’s Residential Tenancy Law, a written rental agreement is the legal basis for a tenant to use a residential property. A verbal promise or a chat history is not a substitute.

The agreement must cover the apartment’s address, size and description, the fixed term, the rent and payment deadlines, the conditions and procedure for changing the rent, the services connected with the apartment and how they are paid, and the people who will live there with the tenant.

Before signing, also check that the agreement answers these practical questions:

What is included in the rent?
Which bills are paid separately?
How are variable charges calculated and when are invoices provided?
When may the rent change, and how will you be notified?
Who handles repairs and emergency problems?
May the landlord enter the apartment, and how is a visit arranged?
Are pets, smoking, subletting or working from home restricted?
How must notices be sent, including notice to leave?
When and how will the security deposit be returned?

Do not sign a version that you do not understand. If the agreement is only in Latvian, obtain a reliable translation or independent advice before committing to it.

Calculate the real monthly cost

The advertised rent is often only one part of the monthly total. Heating, water, electricity, building management, waste collection, internet and other services may be billed separately.

There is no single winter figure that is accurate for every apartment. The total depends on the building, heating system, apartment size, tariffs and consumption. Ask for actual bills for the specific property and check what period each bill covers.

The agreement should make clear which services you pay for, how the amount is established, who receives the invoice and when payment is due. If a tax, management charge or any other cost is passed to the tenant, it should be stated clearly rather than introduced after move-in.

Latvian law allows the rent to change during the contract only when the agreement already sets out the conditions and procedure for that change. A vague clause allowing the landlord to change the rent at any time deserves clarification before you sign.

Know the security deposit rules

A landlord may request a security deposit of no more than two months’ rent. The deposit is separate from rent unless the agreement explicitly says how it may be used.

The agreement should state:

the exact deposit amount;
the date and payment method;
which unpaid contractual obligations may be deducted;
whether the landlord may use it during the tenancy for overdue payments;
whether you must restore the deposit after such a deduction;
the return date and procedure at the end of the tenancy.

The law’s default position is that any unused balance is returned no later than the day the apartment is vacated, unless the agreement provides otherwise. If the contract delays part of the return until the final utility invoice arrives, the timing, calculation and evidence for any deduction should be precise.

Pay by bank transfer where possible and use a clear payment reference. If you pay in cash, obtain a signed receipt that identifies the apartment, amount, date and purpose of the payment.

Record the apartment at move-in

Latvian law allows the landlord and tenant to prepare a handover and acceptance record when the tenancy begins and ends. Treat this as an essential practical step even though the law does not make it automatic.

The move-in record should include:

every room and the furniture or equipment provided;
existing scratches, stains, cracks, damp or other defects;
meter readings;
the number of keys, access cards and remotes;
dated photographs or video agreed by both sides.

Both parties should sign the record and keep a copy. Report any serious defect discovered after move-in in writing. Tenants must promptly inform the landlord about damage or defects that may affect health, life or property, while the landlord must provide undisturbed use of the apartment and maintain the building as required by law to the extent this depends on the landlord.

List everyone who will live in the apartment

The agreement must identify the people living in the apartment with the tenant. A tenant may move in their spouse and the children of either spouse after notifying the landlord in writing. Moving in other people requires the landlord’s written consent.

If two adults will share responsibility for the tenancy, consider whether both should be named as tenants rather than listing only one tenant and one occupant. When several tenants sign the same agreement, they are jointly responsible for the contractual obligations.

You may declare the apartment as your residence

A landlord may not prevent a tenant from declaring the rented apartment as their place of residence. The same protection applies to people who have been moved in according to the tenancy law.

A rental agreement is a lawful basis for declaring a residence under Latvia’s Declaration of Place of Residence Law. Eligible foreign residents can use the official residence declaration service or follow the procedure available through the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs or the relevant municipality.

Foreign nationals with a Latvian residence permit who live in Latvia must declare their place of residence. If you move permanently to a new address, declare the change within one month of moving in.

Declaring an address does not give the tenant ownership rights and does not extend a tenancy after the agreement ends.

Plan your exit before signing

Residential rental agreements in Latvia are concluded for a fixed term. Check the start date, end date, renewal process and what happens if either side wants to end the agreement early.

A tenant has the right to withdraw unilaterally. For an agreement with a term of up to 10 years, the tenant must give the landlord at least one month’s written notice. The notice should be sent to the address specified in the agreement, which may include an email address.

The agreement should also explain the final inspection, key return, meter readings, last utility bill and deposit settlement. Keep your notice and proof that it was delivered.

Consider Land Register protection for a longer tenancy

If the apartment is sold, a rental agreement is binding on the new owner only when the rental rights have been registered in the Land Register. Without that registration, the agreement ends when the buyer’s ownership is registered. If the buyer knows about the tenancy but does not want to sign a new agreement, the tenant may be required to leave within the statutory notice period.

Registration is not routine for every short rental, but it is worth discussing for a longer tenancy or when continuity is especially important. The Residential Tenancy Law allows rental rights to be registered and provides the relevant procedure.

Warning signs that justify walking away

Be cautious if:

you are asked to pay before the person renting the property identifies themselves;
the owner, landlord and payment recipient are different people and no explanation or authority is provided;
the landlord refuses a written agreement;
important amounts or dates are left blank;
utility charges or the deposit return are described only verbally;
you are pressured to transfer money immediately because other applicants are supposedly waiting;
the landlord will not provide a payment record or sign a move-in condition report;
a clause contradicts what you were promised in messages.

Do not rely on urgency to make a decision. A legitimate rental should survive basic identity, document and payment checks.

Final checklist

Before you sign or transfer money, confirm that:

you have viewed the apartment;
you have checked the owner or the landlord’s authority;
the written agreement contains all essential terms;
you understand the full monthly cost;
the deposit is no more than two months’ rent;
rent-change rules are specific;
every occupant is properly listed;
the move-in condition, inventory and meter readings will be recorded;
the notice and deposit-return procedures are clear;
your payment can be documented.

Still looking for a place? Browse current housing listings on Expats Latvia. If you are moving for university, also read our 2026 student residence permit guide before arranging your arrival.

Official sources

Information checked on 4 August 2026.

This guide provides general information and is not individual legal advice. For a high-value, long-term or disputed tenancy, obtain advice on the specific agreement before signing.

Finding an apartment in Latvia: what you need to know before you sign anything