Poland rental market grows as investors convert offices to student housing

The Polish rental market is experiencing a surge in demand driven by students and young professionals. In cities like Zamość, the return of students to local institutions such as Zamość Academy, combined with the arrival of workers related to local industry and military base expansions, has accelerated housing demand. High demand is particularly concentrated in functional two-room apartments and well-located studios near campuses and city centers.

On a larger scale, investors are capitalizing on the shortage of public student housing, which is estimated to meet only 12 percent of student needs. A growing trend involves investment funds acquiring and converting older office buildings, hotels, and boarding houses into luxury micro-apartments or student studios. This conversion strategy allows for faster commercialization compared to new construction and can generate 40 to 50 percent higher revenue per square meter than traditional residential rentals. A notable example is the SHED Sky Living project in Warsaw, which transformed a Class A office complex into student housing in 11 months.