Rent Increases in Poland (Act on the Protection of Tenants' Rights)
How landlords can legally increase rent in Poland: the 3-month written notice requirement under Art. 8a, permitted frequency every 6 months under Art. 9 sec. 1b, and the GUS inflation justification threshold.
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This content is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Laws change frequently — always verify current regulations and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice specific to your situation. Landager is a property management platform, not a law firm.Information last verified: May 2026.
Rent increases for standard residential leases in Poland are strictly regulated by the Act of 21 June 2001 on the Protection of Tenants' Rights (which entered into force on 10 July 2001). Landlords cannot raise rent arbitrarily or with short notice — the law imposes a mandatory minimum 3-month notice period and limits increase frequency to once every 6 months.
1. Mandatory 3-Month Written Notice (Art. 8a sec. 2)
Rent Increase Process in national
Check Frequency Compliance
Confirm that at least 6 full months have elapsed since the last rent increase took effect, per Art. 9 sec. 1b.
Prepare Written Notice
Draft a written notice specifying the current rent, the proposed new rent, and the effective date. If the increase exceeds the GUS threshold, include a written justification.
Serve the 3-Month Notice
Deliver written notice to the tenant at least 3 full calendar months before the new rent takes effect (Art. 8a sec. 2). Registered post is strongly recommended.
Await Tenant Response
The tenant has 2 months to contest: by written refusal (terminating the lease at notice expiry) or by applying to District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) to challenge the justification.
New Rent Takes Effect
If not contested or if upheld by the court, the new rent amount takes effect on the stated date.
Article 8a section 2 of the Act of 2001 establishes the mandatory notice requirement. A landlord must give the tenant at least 3 calendar months of written advance notice before any rent increase takes effect.
Tenant's right to contest: Upon receiving the notice, the tenant has 2 months to respond:
- Accept (by silence or explicit agreement).
- File a written refusal — which terminates the lease at the end of the 3-month notice period.
- Apply to District Court (Sąd Rejonowy) to challenge whether the increase is legally justified.
2. Maximum Permitted Frequency: Every 6 Months (Art. 9 sec. 1b)
Article 9 section 1b of the Act of 2001 limits the frequency of rent increases. Rent and related charges (excluding pass-through utility fees beyond the landlord's control) cannot be increased more frequently than once every 6 months. The 6-month period runs from the date the previous increase took effect, not from the date of the notice.
3. The GUS Inflation Threshold:
Justification Required Above 3% of Reconstruction Value
If a proposed rent increase pushes the rent above 3% of the reconstruction value of the premises per square metre (published quarterly by the voivode for each region), the landlord must — upon the tenant's written request within 14 days — provide a written justification (uzasadnienie podwyżki) with a detailed calculation.
A rent increase that does not exceed the official annual consumer price index (CPI) published by the Central Statistical Office (Główny Urząd Statystyczny — GUS) for the preceding 12 months is presumptively market-justified and does not require detailed breakdown.
Return to the Poland Landlord-Tenant Law Overview.
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