Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]

In the contract, it says that I signed the contract to live there until 1 October 2012. However, it does not say anything about me not being able to terminate the contract. And yes the heating is on!

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]


I have only my contract in English. It says that the contract is signed for a definite period of one year, with no words on termination, unless I violate the rules of the contract in regards to having another person staying here, etc. Is there any way that I can get out this apartment at all?


And yeah most likely not...

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]

Well... That is one of the terminating conditions. If I don't pay the rent, I'll get kicked out. But I don't know if I have the heart to do so.... Oh man decisions!

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]

Oh wow! Hello everyone. I just read through this and there is a lot of crappy advice and a lot of good advice. Let me fill you guys in on the situation:

My landlord is a very nice woman, who I think has no intent on screwing me over. She seems like a very sincere person. I pay 1,500 PLN per month, and 1,000 PLN in gas per month, totaling up to 2,500 PLN per month. Supposedly, according to the realtor, who speak English, I will get money back some time in the spring time if I have used less than 1,000 PLN worth of gas every month. The apartment is 84 square meters, perfect location for me where I can walk to school and hospital.

Now let me tell you about the condition of everything:
There is vinyl flooring everywhere except the living room and bathroom. When I vacuum in the kitchen, I can pull this vinyl up, which would lead me to believe it's done poorly.. The reason I want to leave the apartment is primarily because it is not in the standard I want. For the price I'm paying, I could get something way more modern for less money. I would like to shower standing up, not sitting down. I want to be able to walk around in my apartment and not have to be freezing cold.

Regarding my contact, I signed both a Polish and English version. I don't know if the Polish version was any different, but I would not think so. I do not have the Polish version either.

I live in Bydgoszcz, so going to Warsaw for free legal services would be a waste. I have only so far asked my realtor once about this and she just said in Poland there is no notice period. Again, in my contract it says I signed for one year, and I pay monthly. It does not say anything about me not being able to terminate.

I hope this enlightened some people. I appreciate the advice I am getting, especially JonnyM and magdalena. Everyone else with good advice, thank you.

Phew.

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]

Jonny, yes, 1,000 PLN is gas for water and heating.

Since I don't have a Polish bank account, I pay the owner in cash under the witness of the realtor. I'm now starting to get a little bit of a bad feeling that I'm contributing to the black economy...

And I have been looking around and I know that I can get something much more modern for about 1,000 PLN less. I mean, I can survive in the apartment. It's just that if the kitchen gets this cold now in November, how will it be in January?

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]

I would estimate the ceilings to be about 4 meters high. The building is a very old building I assume. And I have seen Dr. Zhivago.. I feel like that when I walk into the kitchen. I don't know how much gas is per cubic meter either, so I don't know if I'm using a lot or a little.

Now I guess it's just a matter of talking to my parents to get the guts to go to the realtor and say I want to move out. But what if they say that I can't move out? What do I say then? Keep in mind that I'm only 19 years old, and I am one of those people who just kind of go along and say okay to almost everything.

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]


I am going to start the process on Monday and go have a talk with the realtor. And yeah! I want a warm apartment, not some ice box...


I did not get any receipt on the payment... Now that I think about it, my internet deal is also under the landlord's name, and not my own. I just pay everything to her... Is this how things work in Poland or am I getting the short end of the stick on this one?

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]

I do suppose you are correct... I do not know if the realtor keeps any record about the payments. I just know that we have a verbal agreement on paying the rent in cash every month.

I am too starting to get a bad feeling... I mean the apartment spoke to me in the beginning and all was well, but I am now starting to see all the flaws and things that I don't like, and I can't see that I should be forced to live there for a year if I don't want to.

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]

Thank you for the constructive words, mafketis!

I know I have to stand up for myself, and I do, in other situations. It's just that this is my first time living abroad, and away from home, so naturally I don't have so much experience yet!

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]

Yeah... But let's try and keep this on topic as much as possible for my own sake. Sorry if that sounds egotistical, but I really would like some pointers as I have already approached the realtor before.

When I did that I said that I wanted to look at another apartment, and the realtor said that I have my contract for one year and that I couldn't resign now because I will have to pay for the whole year.

The realtor then said that the first contract is usually definite first and then for an indefinite period... What does this mean?

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]


So you're saying I have no right to terminate the contract even though it says nothing in the contract about me not being able to terminate?

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]

What about the standard of the apartment? I mean, one shouldn't expect to have to live in an apartment with a drafty kitchen right? Or having to shower sitting down in a bathtub? I have the right to complain and get this fixed wouldn't you think?

Real Estate / Apartment in Poland is not up to standard; right to terminate the rental agreement? [78]


Yes, I did see the bathroom beforehand.

I will arrange a meeting with the realtor next week and get an update on everything, as I hate not knowing what is going on!