May statistics of the Otodom portal show a spectacular increase in interest in apartments for students. Searching for apartments for rent has already exceeded 1.1 million, and the number of inquiries containing slogans such as “student”, “close to the university” or “to studies” increased by as much as 83 percent. compared to the same period of the previous year. It is a signal that students have started looking for apartments for the new academic year much earlier than before.
– Although absolute numbers may suggest stagnation, the dynamics of demand among students show a different picture – says Milena Chełchowska, an expert in the housing market in Otodom. – We observe strong seasonality – May is a time when the market is waking up. The pre -season period is just beginning, but the alarm signal may be less and less availability of apartments with the most searched parameters, especially in large cities – explains the expert.
Two -room price – students are looking for comfort for reasonable money
Analysis of student preferences shows clear trends about the flats sought. Currently, two -room premises are on top, which are already responsible for 54.6 percent. all searches. This is one percentage point more than in April and only 0.8 percentage points less than in the peak of last year's holiday season.
As for the budget, students most often look for two -room apartments at a price of up to PLN 3,000 per month – This price limit accounts for as much as 30 percent. all searches. In second place is a limit of PLN 2,500 (20 % of searches), and the third maximum level of PLN 3,500 monthly rent (17 %). However, the data show shifts in relation to both April 2025 and May of the previous year – a greater share of searches with a higher maximum amount is visible.
– There is a noticeable return towards higher budgets, which does not mean that students want to pay more – it is simply more and more difficult to find a flat that meets specific expectations in the lower amount. Similarly, the increase in the share of two -room apartments in searches is not only the result of changing preferences – it is also a reaction to the quality of the offer. Students can probe the market in search of comfort and privacy, but at a reasonable price. The problem is that it is getting harder and harder today for such a compromise – says Chełchowska.
Less supply, greater orientation on students
In May 2025, there were over 45,800 lease ads on Otodom. This result is definitely smaller than the total number of ads for this category at the same time last year, but also less than in April 2025. At the same time, the number of offers for rent, which specify the property as good for students, in the past month it was 2000 and is higher than in April.
The participation of student ads in the total number of rental ads reached 4.35 percent, which is more than in previous months. There is clearly a greater orientation of apartments for rent for students, which confirms the seasonality of this market segment. The highest result last year was in September, when the share was 7 percent, increasing gradually from March.
Competitive season ahead of us
The number of apartments referred to as student varies significantly depending on the location. Most such offers are found in medium -sized cities with thriving academic centers. The leaders are Olsztyn, Lublin and Białystok, where there are the most “for a student” apartments, and their participation in the offer was exceeded in May 12 percent.
– The rental market of flats in Poland – although temporarily with limited supply – begins to enter the pre -season start phase. At the same time, OTODOM data in May 2025 show the growing activity of students, greater interest in two -room premises and a gradual increase in the share of offers described as a good apartment for a student. As a result of smaller supply and increasing price expectations, the season to rent apartments by students can be both intensive and competitive – sums up Milena Chełchowska from Otodom.
The upcoming months will be crucial for shaping the apartment rental market in Poland. With growing demand from students and limited supply of apartments, you can expect a further price increase and increased competition between seeking housing for the new academic year.
