A housing booklet from the Polish People's Republic can be worth a fortune. Check how much you can gain
Although it might seem that the topic has died out a long time ago, there are still approximately 962,000 in circulation. housing booklets entitling to a guarantee premium, as reported in the release by rybprimotny.pl.
Data from PKO Bank Polski show that in 2025 the average amount of this bonus was approximately PLN 21.4 thousand. zloty. Importantly, without it, the accumulated funds themselves are usually of little value today.
A relic of the Polish People's Republic that survived everything
In the 1970s and 1980s, housing books were one of the few ways to get your own apartment. For many families, they were a symbol of hope for improved living conditions.
However, the political transformation and hyperinflation caused the accumulated funds to practically lose their value. Documents often ended up in drawers and over time were lost or thrown away.
Despite this, the guarantee bonus mechanism survived.
“There are few financial documents from the times of the Polish People's Republic that turned out to be so resistant to historical turbulences,” emphasizes Marek Wielgo from the website rybprimotny.pl.
- Read also: Iconic equipment from the Polish People's Republic. Do you remember where they came from?
Housing booklet. Who can get a bonus?
Today, not every booklet gives you the right to withdraw money.
The key terms are:
- opening the book before October 24, 1990
- its registration with PKO BP
Failure to register does not disqualify you from receiving the bonus, but it may delay payment – especially if you apply late.
- Read also: Who could you be in the Polish People's Republic? Remember these competitions
Lost book? It's not a problem
Contrary to popular belief, Losing a document does not mean losing money.
If the booklet was created in PKO BP, the bank still has the payment history. In such a situation it is possible:
- cancellation of the old book
- issuing a duplicate
The right to a bonus results from entries in the system, and not from a physical document.
The website rybprzeotny.pl reminds that the housing booklet can be transferred to another person.
The law allows for the assignment of, among others: between:
- parents and children
- grandparents and grandchildren
- siblings
In practice, it is even possible to pass it on – through the so-called chain of assignment – which allows it to be used by the person who actually plans the investment.
You don't have to buy an apartment
The biggest surprise for many owners: To receive the bonus, you do not have to buy an apartment or build a house.
The bonus can also be activated for smaller expenses, such as:
- apartment renovation
- replacement of installations or windows
- thermal modernization of the house
- contributions to the renovation fund
This means that obtaining funds does not require a long-term loan or a large investment, as reminds the website rybprimotny.pl.
How much can you get?
The bonus amount is not fixed. Depends on:
- deposit history
- housing price indices published by the Central Statistical Office
Therefore, before making a decision, it is worth asking the bank for an individual calculation – the first one is free and allows you to realistically assess the potential amount. Its average value according to PKO BP bank data is PLN 21.4 thousand. zloty.
Up to PLN 20 billion to be paid. It is worth checking old documents
The scale of the state's liabilities towards booklet holders may reach up to PLN 20 billion.
At the same time, the number of booklets being closed is decreasing – in 2025, only about 6.5 thousand of them were closed, the vast majority of which resulted in the payment of bonuses.
In many cases, it is enough to find a document – or go to the bank – to recover money that seemed to be irretrievably lost for years.
