Guide for tenants
How to rent an apartment in Warsaw: from budget to keys
To rent an apartment in Warsaw, work out the full monthly cost (rent + czynsz administracyjny + utilities), prepare a deposit, check who owns the flat, sign a lease with a handover report and register your address. In May 2026, flats up to 40 m² in Warsaw were listed at an average of 2,957 zł a month and 40–59 m² at 3,897 zł (Otodom Analytics). Here is the whole process, step by step.
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How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Warsaw?
The price in a listing is rarely what you pay each month. Your monthly cost usually has three parts: the rent paid to the owner (najem), the czynsz administracyjny paid to the building's owners' association (wspólnota) or housing cooperative (spółdzielnia), and metered utilities: electricity, sometimes gas, and internet.
Czynsz administracyjny covers building upkeep, rubbish collection and often advance payments for water and heating. The amount depends on the building and the size of the flat, so always ask for the current figure and the latest statement. Listings word it differently: "czynsz w cenie" (included), "+ czynsz" or "+ opłaty" (on top). Ask exactly what the price includes.
Up front you need more than one month's rent: the first month, the deposit (kaucja) and, for a najem okazjonalny lease, a notary's fee. Have this ready so you don't lose a good flat while you arrange the money.
Average apartment rents in Warsaw, May 2026
Average asking rents on Otodom by floor area. These are listing prices, without czynsz administracyjny and utilities where those are shown separately.
| Floor area | Average rent, zł/month | Year on year |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 40 m² (usually a studio or one-bedroom) | 2,957 zł | +1.3% |
| 40–59 m² (usually two rooms) | 3,897 zł | +0.9% |
| 60–89 m² (usually three rooms) | 6,095 zł | +3.9% |
The median rent in Warsaw in January 2026 was about 4,200 zł (Forsal, February 2026). Śródmieście and new developments are above average. In Polish listings "2 pokoje" means a living room plus one bedroom.
Otodom Analytics in Bankier.pl report, May 2026 data · Forsal, 24.02.2026 (January 2026)
What you pay when you move in and every month
| Payment | To whom | When | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (najem) | Owner | Monthly | Due date and bank account in the lease |
| Czynsz administracyjny | Owner, or the wspólnota/spółdzielnia | Monthly | Ask for the latest statement; it changes after annual settlements |
| Utilities (prąd, gaz, internet) | Providers or the owner | By meter or invoice | Write meter readings into the handover report |
| Deposit (kaucja) | Owner | At signing | Most often one month’s rent in practice |
| Notarial statement | Notary | Before a najem okazjonalny starts | Only for najem okazjonalny and instytucjonalny |
Where to search for an apartment in Warsaw
The main listing portals are Otodom, OLX, Morizon, Gratka and Domiporta, all in Polish. Expat Facebook groups are popular but carry the most fake listings. Good flats in popular districts go within days, so decide on the area, budget and move-in date first, and keep your documents ready.
If you would rather not spend evenings on Polish phone calls, leave a request in the form at the bottom of the page, or message us on WhatsApp, with the district, budget, dates, number of people and any pets. We work in your language: we clarify the brief, check the flats are still available and send a shortlist. The lease is in Polish, and we explain each clause before you sign.
How to avoid rental scams in Warsaw
The typical pattern: a beautiful flat below market price, an "owner abroad", and keys "sent by courier" once you pay.
- Never pay a deposit or "booking fee" before you have seen the flat in person or on a live video call.
- Ask for the land register number (księga wieczysta) and check the owner in the free ekw.ms.gov.pl register.
- Compare the owner’s name with the ID of the person signing. If someone else is letting the flat, they need a power of attorney.
- Pay by bank transfer to the account named in the lease, never cash without a receipt.
- A price well below market plus pressure ("three more people are viewing today") is a reason to stop.
Apartment viewing checklist
- Total monthly cost: rent, czynsz administracyjny, utilities. Ask for the latest statement.
- How the flat is heated and what last winter cost (especially in pre-war buildings).
- Windows, damp, mould in the bathroom and corners.
- Water pressure, appliances, furniture condition: photograph everything.
- Internet: which provider, and can you bring your own.
- Noise: street, trams, neighbours; view in the evening too.
- Parking, storage room (komórka lokatorska), bike room.
- Pets and how many occupants are allowed.
- Lease term, early exit and rent indexation.
- Whether you can register your address there.
Which apartment lease will you sign in Poland?
Residential leases are governed by the Civil Code (Kodeks cywilny, art. 659 onwards) and the Tenants' Rights Act (ustawa o ochronie praw lokatorów). Owners use one of three types.
Standard lease (umowa najmu)
Fixed or open-ended term, in writing.
- No notary needed
- Quick to sign
- Deposit capped by law at 12 months’ rent
- A fixed-term lease can be ended early only on grounds written into it (Civil Code art. 673 §3)
- Private owners agree to it less often than to najem okazjonalny
Najem okazjonalny (occasional lease)
The most common choice of private owners. Fixed term only, up to 10 years.
- Deposit capped at 6 months’ rent
- Clear rules for both sides
- Requires a notarial statement from the tenant agreeing to leave
- You must name another address you could move to, with its owner’s consent
- The owner must notify the tax office within 14 days
Najem instytucjonalny (institutional lease)
Used by companies that let flats professionally, such as build-to-rent buildings.
- No alternative address needed
- Deposit capped at 6 months’ rent
- Professional landlord
- Also needs a notarial statement
- Less room to negotiate price and terms
What expats should know about najem okazjonalny
Under art. 19a of the Tenants' Rights Act, the lease comes with: the tenant's notarial statement agreeing to vacate when the lease ends, an alternative address where the tenant could live, and a statement from that address's owner consenting to it. Newcomers often give a friend's or colleague's address in Poland; ask the notary what will work in your case.
The deposit must be returned within a month of you moving out. The owner may deduct unpaid amounts and damage, but not normal wear and tear. This is general information, not legal advice.
From signing to keys: the steps
Document check
Owners usually ask for your passport, residence document and proof of employment or income. You check the land register and the signatory’s authority.
Lease
Rent, czynsz, utilities, deposit, term, indexation, early exit, pets, all in writing. The lease is in Polish; bilingual versions are common.
Notary
For najem okazjonalny and instytucjonalny: your notarial statement, plus the alternative address for okazjonalny.
Handover report (protokół zdawczo-odbiorczy)
Inventory of furniture and appliances, meter readings, number of keys, photos of each room, signed by both sides.
Payment and keys
Deposit and first month by transfer to the account in the lease. You get the keys.
Registration and utilities
Register your address at the district office (urząd dzielnicy) and move internet and electricity into your name if agreed.
Registering your address (zameldowanie)
Temporary registration (zameldowanie na pobyt czasowy) is done at any Warsaw district office. According to the city's 19115 portal, non-EU foreigners register no later than the 4th day after moving in, and EU/EFTA citizens by the 30th day; stays under 30 days need no registration. Filing is free.
You need your passport, the lease and the owner's confirmation that you live there. Foreigners without a PESEL number must register in person; EU citizens can also register online. Agree with the owner in advance that they will sign the form. This is general information, not legal advice.
New build or pre-war building?
Apartment in a new development
Recent buildings in Wola, Mokotów, Białołęka and Praga.
- Lift, underground parking, security
- Predictable heating bills
- Often air conditioning and new appliances
- Smaller rooms, lower ceilings
- Sometimes far from the metro
- Ongoing construction nearby
Apartment in a pre-war tenement (kamienica)
Older buildings in Śródmieście, Praga, Mokotów and Żoliborz.
- High ceilings, parquet floors, character
- Central streets, everything nearby
- Large rooms
- Heating and windows can be old
- Not always a lift
- No parking in the courtyard
Documents owners usually ask expats for
It varies by owner, but this is the usual list before signing.
- Passport or national ID card.
- A document confirming your right to stay in Poland, if you are not an EU citizen.
- Employment contract, B2B contract or bank statements showing income.
- For najem okazjonalny: an alternative address and its owner’s consent.
- Contact details and, sometimes, a reference from a previous landlord.
Moving out: how to get your deposit back
Give notice within the period set in the lease and agree a handover date with the owner. Before you leave, return the flat to the condition recorded in the move-in report: cleaning, small repairs, your belongings removed. Settle the final utility bills.
On the day you leave, sign a return report with the owner: meter readings, keys and any remarks. Compare it with the move-in report and photos. The owner returns the deposit within a month of you vacating the flat, minus documented arrears and damage. Keep the reports, photos and payment confirmations until the deposit is back in your account.
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Warsaw in 2026?
According to Otodom Analytics, in May 2026 the average asking rent was 2,957 zł a month for flats up to 40 m², 3,897 zł for 40–59 m² and 6,095 zł for 60–89 m². Czynsz administracyjny and utilities often come on top, and the centre and new buildings are above average.
What is czynsz administracyjny?
It is the monthly charge paid to the owners' association or cooperative for running the building: cleaning, rubbish, the repair fund and often advance payments for water and heating. The tenant pays it with the rent or directly. Ask for the latest statement before you sign.
How big is the deposit for an apartment in Warsaw?
Most often one month's rent, up to three for high-end flats. By law the deposit may not exceed 12 months' rent under a standard lease, or 6 months' rent under najem okazjonalny and instytucjonalny. It is returned within a month after you move out.
Why do I need a notary for najem okazjonalny?
The tenant signs a notarial statement agreeing to leave when the lease ends; the law requires it for this lease type. You also name an alternative address and attach its owner's consent. This is general information, not legal advice.
How do I check that the person letting the flat is the real owner?
Ask for the land register number (księga wieczysta) and look it up in the free ekw.ms.gov.pl register. Compare the owner's name with the signatory's ID. Do not pay before viewing, and pay only to the account named in the lease.
Can I rent an apartment in Warsaw without a PESEL number?
Yes, you can sign a lease without a PESEL. Owners usually ask for a passport, a residence document and proof of income or employment. Without a PESEL, you register your address in person at the district office.
What language do you work in?
Yours. Shortlists, viewings and talks with owners are in your language. The lease is in Polish, and we explain each clause before you sign. Leave a request in the form at the bottom of the page and we'll send you a shortlist, or message us on WhatsApp.
Sources
- Otodom Analytics / Bankier.pl, rents for May 2026
- Forsal, Warsaw median rent, January 2026
- Otodom, "Kaucja za mieszkanie"
- Ustawa o ochronie praw lokatorów (ISAP)
- Kodeks cywilny, art. 659 onwards (ISAP)
- Najem instytucjonalny, art. 19f (lexlege.pl)
- Ustawa o ewidencji ludności (ISAP)
- Warszawa 19115: registration of foreigners
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