Poland to expand tenant income checks

6 September 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Government plans tenant income checks for long-term municipal tenants. Changes may raise rents, but not automatically trigger eviction.

The government proposed a new law that would widen tenant income checks for municipal housing. Consequently, the change could affect long-term residents in cities like Warsaw. Tenant income checks will matter for who pays more rent and who may lose a tenancy.

Table of Contents

Tenant income checks: what the proposal does

The draft bill is UD313 and it updates the 2001 Tenants’ Rights Act. Moreover, the plan would let gminas (municipalities) verify incomes for all indefinite municipal leases. Previously, checks applied mostly to contracts signed after April 21, 2019. In addition, the government wants checks at least every three years. Therefore, many long-standing tenants could face new paperwork.

How verification works and what it means

The municipality will send a written request. Then the tenant must submit a household income declaration. However, officials will usually rely on documents, not door-to-door interviews. Consequently, the office may ask employers, ZUS (social insurance), or the tax office for proof. Moreover, Warsaw already requires income statements when people apply for housing help. In addition, the draft lists exemptions. For example, pensioners and certain recipients of municipal services may avoid checks. Therefore, the final list will depend on parliamentary changes.

Rents, refusal and eviction risks

The government intends to raise rent if a household exceeds income thresholds. However, exceeding the threshold does not cause immediate eviction. Instead, the city will recalculate rent proportionally to how much the income exceeds the limit. Moreover, tenants will get a formal notice with a three-month notice period. Then they will have two months to accept the new rent, take the case to court, or refuse the increase. Therefore, refusing the new rent leads to termination after the notice period. In addition, tenants who ignore a municipal request risk automatic rent increases under current rules. Consequently, ignoring letters from gmina is risky.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you receive a municipal letter, act quickly. First, check the legal basis in the notice. Second, you usually have one month to return an income declaration showing three months of income. Third, you can contest a rent hike in court. Fourth, explain Polish terms: ZUS is the social insurance agency, PESEL is your national ID number, and gmina means municipality. Finally, keep employer pay slips and ZUS letters ready as proof.

In Warsaw the stakes are high. The city owns about 80,500 municipal flats. Consequently, districts like Wola, Mokotów and Śródmieście will feel the change most. Moreover, Warsaw faces long waiting lists and limited housing stock. Therefore, the government argues the reform will target help to those who truly need it.

For expats, the practical steps matter. First, respond to any municipal request. Second, gather payslips, ZUS letters, and tax documents. Third, seek legal advice if you plan to refuse a rent increase. Finally, remember that the draft still needs parliamentary approval and implementation rules.

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