Poland housing costs rise amid maintenance hikes and new heating rules

Residents of multi-family buildings in Poland are facing rising living expenses due to increased maintenance fees and upcoming regulatory changes regarding heating. As of October 1, many housing cooperatives have implemented higher rates for operational costs, renovation funds, and maintenance, citing rising energy prices, labor costs, and the increase in the minimum wage.

In some regions, residents of small apartments are seeing monthly costs exceed 1,000 PLN. Specific examples include increases in Gorzów Wielkopolski for building and elevator maintenance, and higher operational rates in Warsaw due to rising energy and IT service costs.

Furthermore, new regulations set to take effect on January 1, 2027, will impact how heating is billed. To combat “heat parasitism”—where residents benefit from heat leaking from neighbors while keeping their own radiators turned off—new requirements for remote reading devices will be introduced. Under these rules, turning off radiators will not eliminate all heating costs, as building managers may set a minimum variable cost to cover the energy required to maintain legally required technical temperatures.