As another academic year begins, demand for apartments continues to rise as students who have not secured a university dormitory must seek private accommodation. However, this is not at all easy, as prices are quite high, and some properties are in poor condition, so I encounter various problems.

One of those who encountered problems is a female student of radiologic technology, who thought she had struck it lucky as she found an apartment near the faculty and at a somewhat reasonable price, but her problems began with the arrival of winter. 'The problem was heating because the radiator was not enough to heat us, so it was quite cold for us. When we told the owner, he said he could not do anything about it and that they too were cold, so we had to use our heaters,' the student recounted her experience of living in the first apartment she shared with her roommate for nine months, adding that the price of accommodation due to heating was higher during winter. A 30 square meter duplex apartment was rented for €150 per month, and the rent included utilities. The apartment was located in a house, and she and her roommate lived on the ground floor, while the floor above was occupied by the owners who rented out the space. She had found the apartment through an ad and viewed it before signing the contract with the owners. 'The main criteria for me were the close proximity to the faculty, good traffic connections, and for the apartment to look decent,' the student emphasized. Students usually start looking for apartments in September before the start of the year because otherwise, they have to pay a certain or full rent for "maintaining the apartment" until they move in. However, the longer one waits, the smaller the choice is. Therefore, we checked the offer of apartments on the Njuškalo.hr portal for universities in Croatia, i.e., cities where students look for accommodation, and how prices are changing. Most ads are found in Rijeka, 2224, and Split, 1765, while the least number of ads are in Dubrovnik 11, Pula 31, Varaždin 45, and Osijek 69, with 130 ads in Zadar and 878 in Zagreb, according to price criteria from €130 to €550. Prices for 20 to 30 square meter apartments range from €200 to €300, while for larger apartments go over €500. Many apartments are rented out on the black market as owners do not want to pay tax, and students cannot claim the accommodation subsidy that the Ministry of Education awards. Furthermore, if any damage occurs, and the owner of the apartment does not want to repair it at their expense, the tenant cannot do anything because there is no contract. 'Without a contract and unpaid tax, problems arise. There is a risk for everyone, and it's hard to decide who is right and who is wrong,' explains Boro Vujović from the Opereta agency, adding that if a contract exists, the situation is very clear, and if there is a disagreement, the only solution is to go to court. The owner of the apartment must cover the regular maintenance costs of equipment and installations, necessary repairs, and replacement of household appliances, unless the person who rented the apartment is responsible for the damage. According to the Housing Lease Act, 'the landlord is obliged to maintain the apartment given for rent in a condition suitable for habitation.' Furthermore, the tenant is obliged to notify the landlord about necessary repairs in the apartment and common areas of the building, which the landlord is responsible for. The same is stated in the Law on Obligatory Relations: 'Maintenance of things in a condition suitable for the agreed-upon use - the landlord is obliged, at their own expense, to perform necessary repairs, and the tenant must allow it.' If this does not happen, the tenant is entitled to a reduction in rent or the termination of the contract. However, in this law, it is stipulated that tenants are responsible for minor repairs and regular usage costs, but it is not specified what this exactly refers to, which often leads to disputes, which can be resolved through a court process or with the help of a professional determine who should be responsible for the damage if there is a contract verified by the Tax Administration. In the case of contract termination, the owner has the right, according to Vujović, to request the rest of the rent. Similarly, the tenant has the right to compensation if the owner prematurely terminates the contract. 'In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is essential to sign a contract in which everything will be clearly defined and provided for,' Vujović emphasizes, adding that it is best to find an apartment through an agency because there is a certain level of security. Therefore, before moving in, thoroughly inspect the apartment to determine any potential defects and damage, especially in the case of installations, equipment, and furniture. Sign a contract in which all the agreed details will be clearly listed. Make sure to keep receipts or other evidence of payment during the rental period, as well as access to invoices for electricity, water, and heating.

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