The tenant is responsible for:

• ensuring their stay in Croatia is legal and correctly registered,

• going to the competent authority (police office / Ministry of Interior) or using the official procedure that applies to them,

• bringing the correct documents (passport/ID, tenancy documentation, university or work papers, health insurance, etc.),

• respecting all deadlines set by law (for example, within a certain number of days after arrival or change of address).

The landlord’s role is to provide the necessary accommodation documentation (e.g. notarized tenancy agreement or confirmation), but the legal responsibility to use that documentation and complete the process belongs to you.

HomeInZagreb can:

• inform you in general terms about the need to register your stay,

• remind you that you may need a tenancy-related document (such as a notarized contract or landlord confirmation),

• encourage both you and the landlord to cooperate so that you can obtain the required paperwork.

HomeInZagreb cannot:

• register your stay on your behalf,

• act as a legal or immigration authority,

• guarantee that a specific document will be accepted by the police or other institutions,

• take responsibility for your visa, residence permit, deadlines or legal compliance.

To support your registration, the landlord should provide:

• a notarized Tenancy Agreement, or

• another officially valid document that is accepted by the local police authority for registration purposes (for example, a landlord’s statement or confirmation of accommodation, depending on current practice).

This document serves as proof of your address and accommodation in Croatia.

However:

• providing this document does not make the landlord responsible for your immigration status, visas or registration deadlines,

• it is still your responsibility to use the document correctly and complete the registration process on time.

The sole responsibility for understanding and respecting the rules on registration of stay, visas, residence permits, timelines and conditions lies with you, the tenant.

This includes:

• informing yourself about Croatian and EU regulations that apply to your nationality and situation,

• knowing which documents you need (visa, residence permit, health insurance, etc.),

• knowing when and where you must register your stay,

• respecting all deadlines and extensions.

Neither the landlord nor HomeInZagreb can take over this legal responsibility from you.

“Registration of stay” means officially registering your address and presence in Croatia with the competent authority (usually the local police station / Ministry of Interior office).

This is not a HomeInZagreb rule and not a landlord rule – it comes from Croatian and EU laws on:

• residence and stay of foreigners, and

• obligations of people living in a country for a certain period of time.

If you stay in Croatia without being properly registered or without the correct visa/residence status, you may face legal or immigration problems, regardless of your rental contract.

You can:

• talk to your parents or family,

• ask your bank or local insurance companies in your home country or in Croatia,

• check if your university or program offers or recommends any specific insurance for students abroad,

• speak with a licensed insurance advisor if you want detailed professional guidance.

HomeInZagreb cannot give you legal or financial advice, but we strongly encourage you to inform yourself and consider taking out appropriate insurance for the duration of your stay.

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No. Having insurance does not change your basic obligations:

• to use the property as a careful and responsible tenant,

• to avoid causing damage on purpose or through gross negligence,

• to report problems early, so they do not become bigger.

Insurance is there as a safety net when something goes wrong, not as a permission to stop caring. In some cases, insurance may not cover damage caused by serious negligence or by actions that are against the policy terms.

Check out the DAMAGE section

For most properties, tenant insurance is not mandatory, but:

• we see it as very good practice,

• we would like to see more of our tenants insured,

• some landlords or programs may require it as a condition of the lease.

If a specific property or landlord requires insurance, this will be clearly stated in the offer/contract. Otherwise, it remains a strong recommendation, not an obligation.

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We are mainly referring to tenant / renter / household liability insurance, which can (depending on the policy) cover:

• Liability if you accidentally cause damage to the apartment (e.g. water leak that affects the neighbour, fire caused by your mistake),

• Liability towards third parties (e.g. damage to neighbour’s property because of something that happens in your apartment),

• Sometimes your personal belongings (theft, certain types of damage) – this depends on the specific policy.

This is not health insurance and not travel insurance (although those may also be useful for other reasons).

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The security deposit is:

• a fixed amount of money paid at the start of the tenancy,
• held as a guarantee,
• used to cover unpaid rent, utilities, cleaning or damage,
• limited to the amount you paid (for example 500–800 EUR).

Insurance is:

• a separate contract with an insurance company,
• usually covering bigger or unexpected risks (e.g. fire, water damage, liability towards neighbours),
• able to cover costs that are higher than your deposit, depending on the policy.

Simply said: the deposit is not insurance, and insurance is not a deposit – they work together, not instead of each other.

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In some countries (for example France) it is very common – and sometimes mandatory – for tenants to have their own rental/tenant insurance.

In Croatia this is usually not mandatory, but at HomeInZagreb we highly recommend that tenants have some form of insurance in addition to the security deposit.

Why? Because:

• the deposit is limited, and

• in case of bigger damage, the deposit may not be enough to cover all costs.

Insurance can help protect you and the landlord in situations where something serious or unexpected happens.

Check out the DAMAGE section

There are a few reasons:

• The tenant is the person who lives in the property every day.

• The tenant is the one who must respect the rules, pay on time, and take care of the apartment.

• If only parents are involved in communication, sometimes the tenant is not fully aware of their obligations, which can create misunderstandings later.

We want you, as a tenant, to:

• know exactly what you are agreeing to,

• feel comfortable asking questions,

• understand what is expected regarding payments, cleaning and behaviour.

Parents can still be very involved and supportive – we just want to make sure the adult tenant is also informed and in control.