Renting Out an Office with VAT, in Euros, per m²: New Office Rental Mode

Letting an office is not like letting a flat: rent often carries VAT, is set in euros and priced per square metre, and the tenant is a company. RentTab’s new office rental mode handles exactly that. When you start a new rental, you choose between “Home” and “Office/commercial” — and in commercial mode you get VAT breakdowns, foreign-currency rent and per-m² pricing on top of the monthly utility settlement.

Why a separate office rental mode?

RentTab is a rental management and utility settlement app for landlords: meter readings, charges, monthly settlements and tenant communication in one place. Most residential landlords need a simple rent with no VAT, which is why home mode is deliberately short — four steps.

Commercial lettings are different. Typically:

• rent is subject to VAT, and the tenant’s accountant needs the VAT amount,
• the rent is agreed in euros, but local-currency VAT still has to be shown,
• the price is per square metre (e.g. €12/m²/month),
• the tenant is a company with its own billing details.

Showing all of that to every flat owner would clutter the app — hence two modes.

What office rental mode does

On the first screen of the rental wizard you pick home or office/commercial, and whether the lease is starting now or already running. Commercial mode unlocks:

VAT on rent, with an invoice-style breakdown

Mark the rent as VAT-able (e.g. 27% in Hungary) and enter it as net or gross — the other figure is calculated for you. The monthly settlement then shows, line by line, the net unit price, net amount, VAT rate, VAT amount and gross, plus a VAT summary per rate. Charges (service charge, electricity, etc.) can carry net/gross values and a VAT rate too.

Rent in euros, VAT in forints

Many office leases are set in euros. In RentTab the lease currency can be EUR, and on foreign-currency settlements the VAT is also shown in HUF together with the exchange rate used (as Hungarian VAT law, Section 80 of the VAT Act, requires). The rate is frozen when the settlement is finalised, so it never shifts afterwards.

Rent per square metre

Enter the unit price (e.g. €9/m²) and the floor area — the server calculates the monthly rent. Raise the unit price later and the new rate applies from the month you choose; earlier settlements stay untouched.

Company tenant and landlord details

Add the tenant company’s billing details (name, address, tax number). On your side, you can set per property who appears as the landlord on the settlement — useful if the office is let through your company and the flat in your own name.

Rent in advance or in arrears

Commercial rent is usually due in advance, but some leases bill in arrears for the month just used. Both are supported, and the monthly settlement follows your choice.

Invoices from your own invoicing account

If you use Billingo or Számlázz.hu (Hungarian online invoicing services), you can connect them to RentTab: once a settlement is sent, the invoice is issued in your own invoicing account. Note that RentTab’s settlement itself is not a tax invoice.

Office rental and VAT: what to watch

In Hungary, letting property is VAT-exempt by default (VAT Act Section 86(1)(l)), but landlords can opt to tax it (Section 88), in which case 27% VAT usually applies. Rules differ by country, and which option suits you depends on your tenants and your own tax position.

RentTab does not make that call for you: you set the VAT rate, the invoicing obligation and the fulfilment date.

Can private landlords use it?

Yes. Office rental mode isn’t only for companies — as a private landlord you can use it whenever your tenant is a business. Simply leave VAT switched off and use the rest: per-m² pricing, euros, company tenant details, monthly utility settlement.

How to get started (3 steps)

1. On the first screen of the rental wizard, choose Office/commercial.
2. Add the property (with floor area if you price per m²), then its meters and charges — just like a flat.
3. In the tenant and rent step, set the currency, VAT, per-m² price and payment timing, then invite your tenant.

From then on, the monthly cycle is the same as for a flat: the tenant submits meter readings, you finalise and send the settlement — now with a VAT breakdown. See all RentTab features, and our guide to utility bill settlement for how meters and charges work.

FAQ

Do I have to charge VAT when letting an office?

In Hungary, not by default: property letting is VAT-exempt (VAT Act 86(1)(l)). If you opt to tax (Section 88), you must invoice with VAT. Ask your accountant which option fits you.

Can rent be set in euros?

Yes. For foreign-currency settlements RentTab also shows the VAT in HUF and the exchange rate used. And not just euros: you can set the rent in almost any currency.

Does RentTab issue invoices?

Yes, through your own invoicing account: connect your Billingo or Számlázz.hu account to RentTab, and once a settlement is sent, the invoice is issued automatically in your account.

Does it work for retail units too?

Yes — “Office/commercial” mode works for any non-residential property: offices, shops, practices, storage units.

Can I manage homes and offices in the same account?

Yes. The mode is chosen per rental, so one account can hold both.