It is worth recalling at the beginning what a municipal apartment is. As we read on the gratka.pl website, this is it premises belonging to the commune, intended for rentm. This offer can be used by low-income people who cannot afford to rent an apartment on market conditions. This is one of the forms of housing support.
The most important features of a communal apartment:
- property right belonging to a commune or city;
- goal – helping to meet the housing needs of the local community;
- meeting the criteria specified by the commune: income and square footage limits;
- usually a perpetual lease agreement;
- usually higher standard than in social housing;
- lower rent than commercial.
Discounts allowed tenants to purchase an apartment for a fraction of the market price
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Photocon / Shutterstock
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Why are discounts disappearing? New housing policy 2025–2027
The government and some members of the Sejm are working on amending the Real Estate Management Act, which will introduce a ban on granting discounts for the purchase of municipal apartments. Discounts – i.e. discounts often reaching 60-95%. value of the premises – enabled tenants to purchase an apartment for a fraction of the market price.
The decision has a connection with a dramatic decline in the municipal stock – from almost 2 million apartments in the 1990s to approx. 755,000. Currently. Deputy Minister Tomasz Lewandowski emphasized that sales, often for a symbolic “price of a coffee machine”, weakened the resources of municipalities that today have problems with meeting the housing needs of local communities and must invest in lease or renovation instead of building new premises. You can read more about the government's housing policy here.
The project provides that the discounts will disappear from July 1, 2027 – although current projects provide for the possibility of maintaining the redemption at the market price also after this date (without discounts). You can read about the government's support for the ban on granting discounts under this link.
What will change for tenants – practical consequences
- No cheap discounts after June 30, 2027
Until the end of June 2027, municipalities will be able to sell apartments with existing discounts. After this date, only purchase at the market price will be possible, which means that a premises worth e.g. PLN 400,000. PLN may cost – well – a whole 400 thousand. PLN instead of several dozen thousand.
- Protection of seniors and new mechanisms
The proposed regulations also provide for: special solutions for seniorswho can sell the premises to the commune and retain the right to continue living there – often with the option of spreading the payment over up to 240 installments (20 years).
- Local governments and municipal resources
Local governments are warning that the end of discounts may limit their autonomy in resource management and have a negative impact on the local marketespecially where municipal housing is an important tool of social policy.
Changes in housing policy mean that the era of cheap purchases of municipal housing is coming to an end
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Piotr Kamionka/REPORTER/East News / East News
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How much does it cost to buy a council flat today?
The redemption price consists of:
- Market value of the apartment – determined by an appraiser (appraisal report),
- Discount – percentage discount approved by the commune council,
- Additional costs – notary, entry in the land and mortgage register, report, extracts and certificates.
Example: premises worth PLN 300,000 with an 80% discount. can be purchased for PLN 60,000, plus approximately PLN 1,500-3,000 in procedural costs.
Step by step: how to prepare for the purchase of a municipal apartment
1. Check if you can take advantage of the discount
Determine at the commune office whether your premises qualify for preferential purchase and the amount of the discount in your town.
2. Order an appraisal report
Have a real estate appraiser appraise the apartment – this is the basis for determining the purchase price. The cost of the surgery is usually PLN 200-600.
3. Settle all arrears
Pay off any rent arrears and ensure that the legal status of the premises is regulated – the commune may require you to be a “clean” tenant.
4. Submit a formal redemption request
You submit the application to the commune office – preferably in advance, because the procedure takes time and may require additional documents (e.g. income certificate).
5. Prepare for a notary and additional costs
After accepting the terms, you must sign the notarial deed – the notary charges a fee and the transaction must be entered in the land and mortgage register.
6. Consider your payment schedule
If possible, ask the commune about the possibility of paying in installments – this is especially important when the discounts disappear and the price increases to the market value.
Summary: time is running out – act sooner
Changes in housing policy mean that the era of cheap purchases of municipal apartments is coming to an end. Tenants who are considering purchasing their premises have until June 30, 2027 to take advantage of preferential rules and discounts. After this date, the price will be determined exclusively by the market, which for many families may mean a difference of tens or even hundreds of thousands of zlotys.
