Polish gardeners seek cap on land usufruct fees

The Polish Allotment Gardeners Association (Polski Związek Działkowców) is calling for legislative changes to limit fees for the perpetual usufruct of land used by Family Allotment Gardens (ROD).

Currently, fees can reach up to 3 percent of the property value, which in large cities could result in annual costs exceeding 1,000 or even several thousand PLN per plot. Given that 65 percent of allotment garden areas are located on land held under perpetual usufruct, the association warns that these costs could impact a community estimated at approximately 5 million people.

The association is advocating for a statutory cap on these fees at 0.1 percent of the property value, citing the social function of these gardens and their importance as urban green spaces. The Ministry of Development and Technology has noted that while most gardens do not currently pay these fees, applying a uniform 0.3 percent rate might assist some while potentially worsening the situation for others.