Big change for apartment owners in Poland
Draft reform strengthens housing community powers Poland, easing manager changes, clarifying balcony costs, and limiting aparthotels.
Poland’s government has proposed a draft law that strengthens housing community powers Poland residents will feel. Consequently, the proposal could affect more than three million apartment owners across the country.
What the draft changes
The draft simplifies how owners choose a manager. Moreover, owners could remove a developer-appointed manager by a simple community vote. Therefore, residents would gain more control over daily building operations and repairs. In addition, the law aims to let communities pursue claims over defects in common parts more efficiently. Furthermore, the draft clarifies who pays for balcony repairs. Consequently, communities would pay for structural elements while owners pay for interior finishes.
housing community powers Poland: management, balconies and garages
The reform sets clear rules for balconies. Specifically, the law treats balcony slabs, load-bearing beams, balustrades and facade elements as common property. Meanwhile, apartment owners would keep responsibility for internal balcony finishes. Therefore, the law should remove many disputes about repair bills. In addition, the project gives rules for garage spaces recorded in separate land registers. Consequently, communities will get clearer authority over such parking units.
Crackdown on pseudohotels and local controls
The government wants to stop micro-units being sold as hotel rooms. Moreover, local councils could ban subdividing buildings into very small units. Therefore, a new 25 square metre minimum for residential units would apply. In addition, municipalities could designate where such conversions are allowed. As a result, cities could curb aparthotel proliferation. However, developers and the tourism ministry expressed concerns. They warn the rules could hurt travel-related housing models, such as condohotels.
Why expats should care
If you rent or own, these changes affect you. Moreover, big city communities manage thousands of buildings. Therefore, management changes can alter maintenance, security and parking. In addition, clearer liability for balconies affects renovation costs. Consequently, you may see different service fees or levies after the law passes. Furthermore, defects in common parts would become easier to fix. Therefore, buildings with post-construction faults might secure repairs faster.
At present, the proposal has cleared initial reviews. Moreover, ministers plan to return the draft to the cabinet committee. Therefore, the government could adopt it in September. However, the bill still needs parliamentary debate and amendments. Consequently, the final law may change before enactment.
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