Renting in Poland for the first time
What the advertised price leaves out, what you pay before you get the keys, and the words on the contract that decide how easily you can leave.
Is the advertised price what I will pay?
No. Across 12,921 live Warsaw listings the median advertised price is 3,500 zł and the median real monthly cost is 4,300 zł, about 22% higher. The gap is czynsz and utilities, which most listings quote separately or not at all. Always ask for the total before viewing.
What is czynsz?
A monthly fee paid to the building, covering things like maintenance, cleaning, water and rubbish. It goes to the building administration, not the landlord, so it is not negotiable and it does not shrink if you are away. It is the single largest reason an advertised price is misleading.
What do I need to pay before I move in?
First month, plus a deposit (kaucja), plus an agency commission if one applies. The median deposit in Warsaw is 4,100 zł, normally one month and refundable when you leave without damage. Budget two to three months of rent to get the keys.
What is prowizja, and can I avoid it?
An agency commission, usually 50–100% of one month's rent and paid once. Where a fee is charged the median is 2,800 zł. It is avoidable: of 12,971 live Warsaw listings we can confirm 6,473 charge none, because they come directly from the owner.
What is najem okazjonalny?
An "occasional lease": a contract type that makes eviction much easier for the landlord. It requires a notarised statement from you naming another address you would move to. It is legal and common; it is not a scam. Ask before you sign whether the contract on offer is najem okazjonalny.
What documents will a landlord ask for?
Usually ID or passport, and some evidence of income: an employment contract, a few payslips, or a bank statement. Students are often asked for a guarantor instead. Nobody legitimate needs a payment before you have seen the flat.
General information, not legal advice. Figures are medians from live listings and change as the market does.