Renting in Poland: deposit cap, rent increases and notice rules
Short answer: A Polish landlord can ask for a deposit of up to 12 months of rent, or 6 months for occasional rental, and must return it within a month of you leaving.
Renting is how most newcomers start in Poland, and the rules that protect tenants are in one statute: the 2001 Act on the protection of tenants' rights (ustawa o ochronie praw lokatorów). This guide covers the parts that matter when you sign a normal private lease: the size of the deposit, when you get it back, how rent can go up, and when a landlord can end the contract. It also explains "occasional rental" (najem okazjonalny), a contract type you will meet often, which gives you fewer protections. The text used here is the consolidated version published in the Journal of Laws (Dz. U. 2023 poz. 725), read on 13 October 2026. A draft amendment is in the legislative process, so check the current text before you rely on a detail.
The deposit: at most 12 months of rent
A landlord may make the lease conditional on a security deposit (kaucja). By law it cannot be more than twelve times the monthly rent, calculated at the rent in force on the day you sign. In practice many landlords ask for one or two months, but the cap is much higher than that.
The statute also sets the refund rules:
- The deposit must be returned within one month of you vacating the flat, after the landlord deducts what you owe from the tenancy.
- If the deposit is revalued, the refund equals the monthly rent at the time of refund multiplied by the same number of months used when it was collected, and never less than the deposit you paid.
Keep your handover protocol (protokół zdawczo-odbiorczy), photos and meter readings from the day you move in and out. They are your evidence if the landlord claims damage.
Rent increases
A landlord can raise rent or other charges only by giving notice of the new amount, in writing, and with a notice period of 3 months, ending at the end of a calendar month, unless the lease sets a longer period. A written notice is required for the increase to be valid.
The law adds a limit for raises above a threshold. If the yearly rent would exceed 3% of the flat's replacement value, the increase is allowed only in justified cases listed in the statute. At your written request, the landlord has 14 days to give you the reason and the calculation, or the increase is invalid. Always read the lease first: it may contain its own indexation clause.
When a landlord can end the lease
If you pay for the flat, the landlord cannot end the tenancy for any reason they like. Notice must be in writing and must state the reason. The statute lists the grounds, including:
- You keep using the flat against the contract or cause damage after a written warning, or you seriously and repeatedly break house rules. Notice is up to one month, ending at month end.
- You are in arrears for at least three full payment periods, after the landlord warned you in writing and gave you an extra one-month deadline to pay.
- You sublet the flat without the landlord's written consent.
- The building must be emptied for demolition or renovation.
- The landlord wants to move in, which needs six months' notice and a suitable replacement flat or another place you can live.
Occasional rental (najem okazjonalny)
This is a fixed-term lease for up to 10 years where the owner is a private person not running a rental business. It is common because it lets the owner remove a tenant faster if the tenant refuses to leave. The tenant must supply:
1. A notarial declaration submitting to enforcement and agreeing to leave when asked.
2. Another address where they can live after eviction.
3. The consent of the owner of that address.
Key facts for tenants: the deposit is capped at 6 months' rent, it is refunded within a month of leaving, the notary fee for the declaration is capped at 1/10 of the minimum monthly wage, the contract must be in writing, and the landlord can raise rent only as the contract allows. The landlord must report the lease to the tax office within 14 days of the start, and must show you the confirmation if you ask. If the landlord skips that step, the faster eviction rules do not apply.
Checklist before signing
- Check the deposit against the 12-month cap (6 months for occasional rental).
- Ask who pays utilities and how rent is indexed.
- Sign a written handover protocol with meter readings and photos.
- Keep a copy of the lease and every written notice.
Frequently asked questions
How much deposit can a landlord ask for in Poland?
For a normal lease, up to 12 times the monthly rent. For occasional rental, up to 6 times.
When must I get my deposit back?
Within one month of leaving the flat, minus any amounts you owe the landlord.
How much notice does a landlord need to raise the rent?
3 months, in writing, ending at the end of a calendar month, unless your lease sets a longer notice.
Can my landlord end my lease without a reason?
If you pay for the flat, notice must be in writing and give a reason from the list in the statute.
What is occasional rental?
A fixed-term lease for up to 10 years with a notarial eviction declaration, designed to make removal of a non-paying tenant faster.
