Poland proposes aid for Clean Air program fraud victims

The Polish Council of Ministers has approved a draft law aimed at assisting beneficiaries of the ‘Clean Air’ program who were defrauded by unscrupulous contractors. The proposed legislation allows victims to suspend debt repayments or, in certain cases, receive debt relief.

Between 2022 and 2024, homeowners fell victim to contractors who used powers of attorney to withdraw advances from provincial environmental protection funds but failed to complete works, performed them poorly, or inflated costs. This has left many, including those from low-income groups, facing demands to return significant sums of money for services never rendered.

The scale of the issue is substantial, with over 8,000 contracts involving unliquidated advances totaling approximately 285 million PLN. The government estimates the total cost of the aid package at over 550 million PLN over the next decade. The bill now moves to the Sejm, Senate, and the President for final approval.