Poland: Follow-up to POL31757.E of 3 May 1999 on the usual amount of money (in $US) that persons must provide, either as deposits or payments, to the owners or administrators of apartments in Warsaw (privately or publicly owned) in order to rent apartments; whether the payments or deposits of money are enshrined in legislation, or whether they are unofficial practices that regularly occur; whether there are significant differences between Warsaw and other major cities (January 1999 - April 1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | POL32002.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Poland: Follow-up to POL31757.E of 3 May 1999 on the usual amount of money (in $US) that persons must provide, either as deposits or payments, to the owners or administrators of apartments in Warsaw (privately or publicly owned) in order to rent apartments; whether the payments or deposits of money are enshrined in legislation, or whether they are unofficial practices that regularly occur; whether there are significant differences between Warsaw and other major cities (January 1999 - April 1999), 1 May 1999, POL32002.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab246c.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following questions were sent to two real estate agencies in Warsaw:
1. What is the usual amount of money (in $US) that persons must provide, either as deposits or payments, to the owners or administrators of apartments in Warsaw (privately or publicly owned) in order to rent apartments?
Are the above-mentioned payments or deposits of money enshrined in legislation or are they unofficial practices that regularly occur in Warsaw?
Have there been any recent reports indicating that the owners or administrators of apartments in Warsaw hare charged prospective tenants with exorbitant or illegal payment or deposit rates?
Are the answers to the above questions significantly different for other major cities in Poland and, if so, in what manner?
A 6 May 1999 letter sent to the Research Directorate by the president (owner and broker) of Euromark Realty in Warsaw, a real estate company dealing in residential and commercial real estate, states the following [in answer to the above questions]:
It varies but the security deposit is usually one monthly rent.
They are not enshrined in legislation as yet.
No.
The situation is pretty much the same across Poland. As the supply of residential accomodation increases, prices are continually decreasing.
A 6 May 1999 letter sent to the Research Directorate by the president of New Realty, a real estate agency that deals with the selling and renting of residential real estate, primarily in Warsaw, states the following:
Rent prices for apartments are as follows:
Efficiencies: $250-$400.
1 bedroom $400-$800.
2 bedrooms $550-$1200.
Prices vary depending on location and standards. Usually, in addition to first month's rent a one-month security deposit and a broker's commission is required (a total of 3 payments up front). Utilities and telephone are extra and vary according to usage.
Above are market-driven prices; above conditions are considered "industry standards" and are generally accepted.
Owners (administrators do not deal with rentals) do have an unrealistic expectation of what their properties are worth. Nevertheless, a general undersupply of inhabitable apartments has kept prices high, mostly because of steady influx of foreigners who are able to pay higher rents. There is already an oversupply of larger apartments (3 bedrooms and higher) and some rents are starting to decline. There should be a general downward pressure to reduce rents, but not for the foreseeable future (12 - 18 months.). The critical need for affordable housing has remained unadressed.
Warsaw is the most expensive city in Poland and rents here are 50%-200% higher than in other regions of the country.
In a 19 May 1999 telephone interview, the president of New Realty added the following information. In Poland, the vast majority of apartments (excluding those in municipal and government apartment complexes) are owned by the tenant, not by the apartment building owner. The rent and deposit prices involved in the renting of apartments are determined by the market and are not enshrined in legislation. Apartment owners who desire to rent their premises may concoct any excuse to avoid renting to prospective tenants if they believe that the prospective tenants will be unable to pay the rent, will utilize the premises for illegal purposes, or if they are suspicious of the prospective tenants.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Euromark Realty, Warsaw. 6 May 1999. Letter sent to the Research Directorate by the president.
New Realty, Warsaw. 19 May 1999. Telephone interview with the president.
_____. 6 May 1999. Letter sent to the Research Directorate by the president.
