Who Pays When Municipality Pays Rent in Poland
If you receive a municipality rent subsidy, you may wonder who ultimately bears the cost when a landlord raises the rent or changes lease terms in Poland. This article explains in plain, practical language what obligations tenants and landlords have and how a municipal subsidy affects your responsibilities. We describe which documents to collect, when to contact the municipal office, and how to document payments. You will also find concrete steps to take in disputes over unpaid rent or if the subsidy is suspended. The guidance is written for tenants in Poland without legal jargon.
Who is responsible for paying rent?
Formally, the tenant is the debtor of the rent toward the landlord based on the lease agreement and civil law [2]. A municipal subsidy is a social benefit that usually reduces the tenant's share, but it does not automatically transfer responsibility to the municipality unless the administrative decision states otherwise [1].
A municipal subsidy does not release the tenant from the obligation to pay rent.
How does a municipal subsidy affect tenant obligations?
Depending on the program, the subsidy may be paid to the tenant or directly to the landlord; check the administration decision and your lease terms [3]. If the subsidy is paid to you, you still need to pay the landlord the agreed share of the rent.
- Check the municipal decision and exact subsidy conditions.
- Keep copies of the lease, the decision, and payment receipts.
- Inform the landlord in writing about the subsidy and attach a copy of the decision.
- Monitor payment dates and respond to payment demands within statutory deadlines.
Responding to payment demands on time reduces the risk of court proceedings.
FAQ
- Does a municipal subsidy exempt me from paying rent?
- No. A subsidy usually reduces your portion of the payment, but the obligation to pay the landlord remains unless the administrative decision specifies otherwise.
- What if the subsidy is suspended?
- Contact the municipal social services department, collect documents and ask for justification of the decision; keep written correspondence.
- What if the landlord demands the full amount despite the subsidy?
- Present the subsidy decision and payment receipts; if the dispute continues, consider mediation or filing a claim in the district court.
How to proceed
- Contact the municipal office to find out exactly who receives the subsidy.
- Gather documents: lease, subsidy decision and payment confirmations.
- Pay your portion of the rent according to the lease and keep proof of payment.
- Send the landlord a letter with information about the subsidy and a copy of the administrative decision.
- If the dispute continues, consider mediation or filing a claim in the district court (civil division).
- Use free legal advice or tenant support organizations if you need assistance.
