Moving and Finding Housing in Poland: My Personal Experience
In this video, I will share my experience of moving from Kraków to Warsaw in Poland. After living in Kraków for 9 years, I never felt the need to move. However, when I made the decision, I started facing many problems related to finding housing in Poland. This video will be useful for both those who already live in Poland and those who are planning to move. Let’s start by saying that housing is an essential part of our lives, as it is our home and a place where we spend a significant amount of time.
Stages of Finding Housing in Poland
The first stage is making the decision to move. After that, it’s advisable to create a technical assignment (TA), where you outline the important criteria for choosing housing in Poland. These criteria will be useful not only for you but also for realtors who will help you in your search for an apartment. In our Telegram chat, I will share an example of the TA I created myself. Many realtors noted that they really liked this TA and that they would like to see more such well-written descriptions from clients.
Next, the question arises: should you look for housing on your own or hire a realtor? At first, with my knowledge of the Polish language, I thought I could find an apartment without the help of a realtor. However, many of the offers that realtors sent me matched those I found on the open market. This led to the understanding that realtors could help me save time and even find better options on the market.
I started searching for housing both independently and through realtors, as well as with the help of friends and acquaintances. The worst option for me turned out to be Facebook groups. Despite the large number of offers, it was extremely inconvenient. You have to constantly monitor the feeds, and under one post, there may be many messages.
Thus, I identified three effective ways of searching: independently, through realtors, and through acquaintances.
Arranging Housing Viewings and Developing “Observation Skills”
After you find a suitable property, you need to arrange a viewing. The sooner, the better! In Warsaw, housing is taken quickly. Personally, I avoided participating in viewings where potential tenants are placed in a queue to see the apartments. Instead, it’s important to arrange viewings as quickly as possible, preferably as many apartments as possible.
At first, it was useful for me to view several properties, even those I wasn’t interested in. This helped me develop “observation skills,” understanding what options were available and what was important for me in an apartment. During the viewings, I learned how to ask the right questions to realtors and owners.
It is important to clarify the basic conditions in advance — the relevance of the listing, the exact address of the apartment, as well as the terms and cost of NŻ. NŻ refers to administrative payments, which can vary significantly. In some cases, the cost of NŻ can exceed the rent itself.
Mistakes When Searching for Housing: What to Consider
It’s easy to make mistakes during the housing search. One of the most common is not paying attention to the conditions of the contract. There’s a belief that in Warsaw, rental agreements are most often signed for a minimum of 12 months, and some realtors may try to push you into signing a 24-month contract if you don’t pay attention to the details.
Some contracts may include clauses about minor repairs that fall on the tenant. Without a clear definition of what constitutes minor repairs, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to cover expensive work. Make sure you understand what you’re signing!
Another important point is power of attorney. If someone offers you an apartment through a power of attorney, make sure you know all the owners and that the power of attorney is valid.
Housing Insurance: An Important Aspect
Another important aspect is the possibility of insurance. You can insure your apartment against various unforeseen situations, and sometimes this may be required by the landlord. I myself took out insurance for 150 PLN a year, which covers situations when something breaks or gets damaged.
Conclusion: Tips and Important Points
Finding housing in Poland can be a difficult process, especially if you’re a newcomer, and you’ll have to go through many nuances. Read contracts carefully, study the information, and don’t hesitate to seek help from professionals. It’s better to pay a realtor or lawyer to ensure that you don’t miss any important details.
If you have any questions, leave comments, and I’ll be happy to answer. Moving to Poland is a great opportunity, and I hope your experience will be a successful one!
