Language / Problems Polish People Have with Learning English [63]

-is good book, I recommend, unfortunately my teacher she not lick it. She tell to me it is too long.
But she likes the book.

Real Estate / Best residential areas in Wroclaw to live in? [27]

Biskupin is probably the best area, but very expensive for houses, some apartments are reasonable but they are high rise blocks usually. The better parts of Biskupin are very green and clean. That area would be my choice if money were no object.

If looking for a rental, I have been unimpressed with most agents. However, if spending big buck$ they may take more interest in which case most will seem fine.

UK, Ireland / Are Polish people moving back home from the UK? [68]

Well, funnily enough over the past few weeks I've met a cluster of Polish people who have returned from the UK (categories of IT, blue collar, self-employed). I was extremely surprised at the IT person returning as they were earning stunning cash developing programs. Of course, these people were not great in number, but it may be the start of a trend. Certainly here in Wro they are building building building flats everywhere I seem to go, suggesting there's some expectation of quite an influx. They're building apartments and also a noticeable number of office buildings with units to rent right across Wro. They must be expecting quite a few returners or other townsfolk to be heading to the big city for work.

Some would argue that a return is already possible as many of these people earned large sums abroad.
Some people tell me wages are already rising, which would be another thing needed perhaps (I have only seen rises in certain specialist sectors, however, and often it's non-Poles who are the ones who get these jobs).

As for the impact on other countries, perhaps negligible as there always seems to be someone else willing to take up any slack.

This is a pure anecdote and I can't be sure it's correct, but someone told me this evening they lost their job in broadcast media or rather they gave it up as the money was too low and became a worker in a totally different field. Their job is now done by several very low paid trainees. This was quite specialist work. I cannot check it's 100% true, but if it is then it makes me wonder if the Oxford University report saying 47pc of jobs will go to automation is nearer than we think.

independent.ie/business/irish/half-of-all-jobs-could-be-lost-to-computerisation-30451626.html

UK, Ireland / "These Scottish are only here for the free booze" - Bestman speech at a Polish Wedding [18]


+1

Is there going to be any religious person or people present? If so, don't embarrass the guests with things that would make the priest or religious guests cringe.

Law / Is it possible to get an MOT on a RHD car in Poland? [28]

But if it isn't PL registered they probably won't do any official check, RHD or LHD, will they? Surely the computer will say nie?

Law / Is it possible to get an MOT on a RHD car in Poland? [28]


That's my understanding too but have they allowed RHDs to be registered here now then? I had thought it was still in the courts.


I assume you mean for an unofficial safety check? Because if it's not PL registered, then surely they don't do an official test on a car right or left hand drive/

Language / Do English-speakers sound funny when we speak Polish? [49]


I have no idea what you mean but I'm sure you're right! I'll have to look into this, because I've never heard that stuff before and it's probably something I should know, especially at the middle class Polish dinner parties that beckon ;)

I've had to look these terms up, never 'eard 'em before in me life!

teachingenglish.org.uk/knowledge-database/stress-timed

:( quelle embarrassment

Language / Do English-speakers sound funny when we speak Polish? [49]

I am told apparently yes, it's something of a novelty to Polish ears, amusing even, unless we get the sounds exactly right and sound almost native. It probably can be done, at least on British member of the forum here apparently manages it (I shall spare his blushes and not name him!).

I'm told Brits sound as if they are speaking while enjoying a nice big chunk of Bournville chocolate!

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

Are offices and shops falling in price too? Nice area, down from 345K to 315K (Krzyki).

One or two cheaper houses seem to be coming on to the market with the more expensive stuff sticking for absolutely ages. Like years.

In the last few days, an apartment in a smart area (smart duplex flat too, 80m2) dropped from 420 tys to 399 tys. It had been at 420 tys for maybe 4 months. It came to my attention as near an acquaintance's place.

Having said that, some houses (and probably flats too) are still coming on for ahem aspirational prices.

I don't know if it's a summer slump or an acceleration of price cuts, but seems to me that more and more flats are looking less expensive. If I was in the market for one, I'd start to pay more attention. I couldn't be 100% sure but I think I'm seeing even never-before-occupied (no pcc) new flats on estates that were built 1 or 2 years ago coming on for 10-15% less than I recall a few months ago. 60-65m2 size new flats at prices that I don't remember seeing before in the good parts of Wroc. I shall try to find more definite evidence in case it's just a blip for the holiday period.

Another 1 or 2 reductions, and these are without me paying attention, so there could be more. Flat on a good estate - started life up for sale at 365 000 about 6 months ago. Dropped to 350 then 330 over the months. About 2 weeks ago down to 325. Since yesterday 315. I am not 100% sure but this could be the same flat that was 399K last year. It's certainly on the same osiedle.

Quite incredibly, a flat that was around 320 or 330 tys. earlier this year is now 260 tys. and marked as price negotiable (Oporów, reasonable estate). Although some sellers are continuing to ask prices that seem comical, there seems to be a growing number of very realistic prices. It either suggests imminent capitulation by sellers or a severe summer slump. I don't know which it is. I can tell you the house I was hoping to buy wouldn't reduce for me, but they may be regretting that decision by now.

I know for 100% fact of another flat which started life at 360 tys. in May. It then dropped to 330 tys. by July. Now 300 tys (since yesterday). It was over-priced at 360 tys, it's the right price now pretty much. It's the fastest drop of 20% that I have seen although not monitoring flats that much as trying to buy a house. Anyone who wants details of these reductions can PM me. I have not posted links because mods may prefer sellers' blushes spared.

Curiously, seeing the same flats going on with new agents for typically 2 or 3% more but staying at the old price with the old agent who continues to advertise. Seeing quite a few of these. House I offered on and was rejected, still for sale and also for rent. Some properties coming to market at high prices -- they should look next door and see similar size homes that have not sold in months or years at lower prices. One of the new developments is renting out many of its flats (slightly expensive rents it must be said) because they couldn't sell enough of them. Looking around that area, the devs must be very sure of demand, the sheer quantity of flats built on various estates by various devs. But, in the meantime, some are renting them out, perhaps er just a small cashflow problem? Prestige very expensive flat in Krzyki has just been put on the market by its owner. That may speak volumes. Interesting times.

Work / urgent help with umowa - my boss wants to cancel the contract before 1 month notice period expires [7]

I don't know the answer but frankly I've heard of situations where a teacher doesn't get paid for months and there's no easy or practical way to get the wages due from the employer. I don't know whether she has to do more or not, but if it were me I'd be grateful for July's money and look for another job pronto.

Life / Cost of living in Wroclaw (rent price too) [119]

https://polishforums.com/work/pln-month-enough-people-india-live-wroclaw-69895/

The majority of Poles I know have a Masters in something and are on 2 to 4 (thousand) per month PLN. Personally, I'm from the UK, I have to survive on much less as I don't have an IT specialism or anything like that (even if teaching English I'd struggle to pull in much over 2 or 3 a month.

I think that probably answers your question unless you want to drive to Tesco in a Bentley.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

Nice part of Wrocław, Biskupin. Noticing some flats having a gentle drop in price over the past 3 or 4 weeks. One that even I was thinking about (I really only want a house!) has reduced by just under 2% in the past week having been reduced by something like 8% in the past few months. I don't know if it's the summer slowdown or a dawning of realism, but this is what I am seeing more of at the moment. The quite cheap house that I thought had sold has not sold, btw, it's been relisted.

A flat seems to have sold on a supposedly good estate near me -- it had been for sale for must be over a year. The builders are now in there which is why I think it sold, so it could be that it was just sold cheaply. The for sale banner has of course gone.


This one has now gone back up in price to 310K. I don't know if it's just with some agents or all. Perhaps the 280K was attracting offers of 250K, and so they put the price back up.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]


I agree with every word in your post, and Warsawski's too, which is why they are probably extending and pretending, as you said.

I have been given a very cold shoulder here by agents (or perhaps owners) if I dare to offer even 5-10% off the asking price - - they almost always just cut me off like I'm some sort of freak, never hear from them again, finito. In the UK, 10% off for cash was the norm, if not more. And yes I am only buying for myself to live in not to rent or invest, with the thought in the back of my mind of part of the house being an office for my income (very small business, not doing well unfortunately, but no worse than expected so far).

I'll never complain about British estate agents or vendors again after the majority of my experiences here. Come back, F*xt**s & B**rs**w E**s, all is forgiven :D

One of the few agents to take some interest sent me the details of a place and presented it as good value. I immediately sent an email back saying it was too expensive by far. Just a few weeks later it is already reduced by 10% and in my opinion has another 10% to go before anyone is tempted. Slowly, some sellers are getting realistic, or at least in that approximate ballpark. This week for the first time I can recall, I saw a semi come on the market for 599K. It seems to have sold within days, so sellers should be aware they will probably sell if they are realistic. (IMHO the semi was approx. 20% over value anyway, but compared to others it looked cheap.)

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

Despite the fact the 1 or 2 places I have personally tried to negotiate on being very stubborn on price (they won't reduce by more than 3% despite in one case the thing being up for sale for several years!) I have noticed some prices coming down here and there. One that surprised me was on a good estate (near the one shown below) where the price was slashed 8% and still no buyer. Knowing what I know about that estate, they usually sell quite readily according to a friend who lives there, and I think he's honest about these things.

This one has just been reduced 10K. I am not completely certain as they all look similar after a while, but it might be the same one that was 30K more a couple of months ago. I also know for 100% fact that another on another friend's (less nice) estate was slashed from 340K to 280K and still has no buyer. A similar thing happened in a prestige street and prestige block earlier in the year, where a flat needing updating was slashed from its starting price by about 20-25% and that might also still be on the shelf, I don't know. That one, at its cheapest price, was not a bad buy for where it is. If I was looking for a flat, I'd have gone for it.

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Life / Cost of living in Wroclaw (rent price too) [119]

@Smartjames, you're welcome. I emailed the flat I had in mind for you but they did not reply and have now deleted their ad, it's disappeared completely. So I think they have no vacancies there. But it was quite cheap and from the photos a very nice standard. Unfortunately, gone.

All I can find at the moment is this gumtree.pl/cp-krotki-termin-i-noclegi/wroclaw/mieszkanie-na-wakacje-ul-sliczna-66m2-606054832 which is more expensive, quite a bit more, although much better for transport.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

That's a shame, because some of them here are really having a laugh and I only find out for sure when I see the KW number or deed. It would save a lot of time if my hunches that Pan Vendor is taking the urine could be verified officially before even having to talk to them.

Slight increase in the number of emails from developers offering discounts. Deals include cheap finishing and approx. 8 to 10% off the list prices (although one development deducted much more than that in S Wrocław). However, a quite awful block not far away has a banner sayind 'last 4 remaining', which by my calculations means 3/4 must have been sold.

Stunned at the flats which I recognise from Jan or Feb still on at the same prices, unsold of course.

Have also noticed 1 or 2 definitely slashed in price, however. I can't give exact figures but at least 2 have been reduced by over 10% in the past 2 weeks and 1 of them I think has been slashed by something in the ballpark of 20%. (Both secondary market, not bad areas.) That house I was after -- they have further slashed it although not to what I'd be able to afford.

On the flip side, I see some aspirational prices for new to market stuff, obviously the agents play a waiting game and humour the owners.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

Is there a portal that gives historic property selling prices for a particular flat or house, from 2005 or from before, like a Polish version of Nethouseprices or Mouseprice ?

Life / A fair notion of salaries in major Polish cities [4]

Just came across the salary for a chief cashier at a very well known upmarket supermarket on the outskirts of Wrocław. The salary for either 7am to 3pm or 2.30pm to 10.30pm was 1700 gross plus a possible bonus of 10%. That's for a senior cashier, ie starzsy.

This makes it all the more puzzling as to why a 50m2 flat is typically 250-350 tys here. (250 tys usually for a high rise communist era block)

Classifieds / English cuisine week in Lidl shops in Poland [203]

Just noticed the Hatherwood Marmalade product from Lidl is made in Germany!

What next - cheddar from China?

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]


One off or annually??

Life / Cost of living in Wroclaw (rent price too) [119]


I have no connection to them, but there is somewhere in S Wroclaw where you can just do a few weeks or a month on a quite nice estate near buses (but not trams). He's been advertising a long time so I assume he's genuine. It's about 2500 a month for a large flat short term. But as always, you need to be careful when paying up front for accommodation. If you PM me, I'll send you a link to the ad. (Unless a mod indicates that I can post the link here without breaking any rules. I have no connection whatsoever to the advertiser.)

Life / Need Help Topping Up Credit On PLAY Phone. Code doesn't work! [2]

Are you sure you've entered the right code and the # at the end? It's quite common for people to mistake what's the correct code on the little slips of paper when you buy your top up. Why did you buy 2 x 10zl ? Why did you separate the top ups?

Here are some slips with the codes field shown (kod)

It might also be that you are on a tariff which does not correspond to the top up type.

See also play.pl/en/ (English)

Life / Cost of living in Wroclaw (rent price too) [119]

Funny thing is, I don't spend much on myself, but I spend generously on my genuine friends and others who deserve it. So, if there are any gorgeous Polish women reading this thread, please say hi ;)

@Smartjames06
This is just my humble view. Even for 2, 8 tys. brutto (8000 in Polish) is a very good income for Wrocław. I know some people on more but it's up with the best paid really. I'd be surprised if you don't manage. You can also save money by shopping sensibly, shopping around for car insurance and shopping around for all sorts of things. I save a lot of money by buying online, having the right bank account with good deals, etc. If I were earning 6K net a month here, unless I had very expensive tastes I'd be absolutely thrilled, even if I had a wife's income to think about. I hope all goes well for you if you decide to take up the offer.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

Good point, and thank you for teaching me a new word (cadastral) ! :)

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

No, that happened a while back and the same house is still for sale. I was reminded of this house when I was looking at property listings today and saw it was live and renewed. But, I've seen it advertised regularly ever since. It's not bad value though, so it should sell this autumn. If it doesn't, then my "silly" price won't look so silly (although it's only silly compared to what I assessed as the owner's idea of what it's worth, not the reality.)

Life / Cost of living in Wroclaw (rent price too) [119]


Good grief!! I must be living like someone who goes through the bins then, because my monthly grocery bill is merely 250zł. I don't buy meat or fish, mostly vegetarian stuff like beans and aubergine (egg plant), courgettes, spices, soya pieces, the occasional fish fingers from Carrefour. Also no beer or wine. And no women, vodka, or cigarettes, Er, why am I here in Poland, again?

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]


I see.

And also, yes, I hear a lot about the CHF problem anecdotally.

An agent begged me to put an offer in at a certain figure on a house. I replied "the owner won't take it, it's silly". She said "Just offer it, he'll take it if it's there, I know him." Well, the owner didn't take it.

So I think many of the agents are finding things tougher and fear a stalemate.

Meanwhile, I note today the same flat for sale that didn't sell has come on with a new agent at 1% more than last month. Over the page, I see flat asking prices down (typically) 5 or 6% on a month ago. Properties I offered on many months ago are still unsold and relisted almost daily, mostly price unchanged on last year's or 2014 Q1's.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

If I'm going to overpay by a large amount, I'd rather overpay in Warsaw than here. And yes, some of the sellers have been hanging on for years, I assume dropping the price in stages, although some maybe haven't. What's correctly priced tends to sell in 4 weeks (sometimes sooner, sometimes a little longer0, from what I can tell.

Classifieds / English cuisine week in Lidl shops in Poland [203]

Ethical reasons mainly
caloriecount.about.com/forums/vegetarian/disgusting-truth-rennet

And also, there's no reason to use animal rennet. British cheesemakers largely removed in 30 years ago. I recall Prewitts cheese was the first vegetarian rennet cheese I had in the UK, and within 10 years the majority (probably all) British cheeses were suitable for vegetarians. I'd rather pay a little more and not have it, but the cheddar's not unduly expensive in Britain as result of this vegetarian enzyme substitute.

Classifieds / English cuisine week in Lidl shops in Poland [203]


I don't know, but probably German or Portuguese.


I bought 5 or 6 in the past and once it was just past the best before or whatever it is the taste was just not good any more. So I don't buy too many these days. I suppose I should be brave and freeze one to see what happens after 6 months.