Why so many incomplete kitchens in Polish rental flats?

Can someone explain why so many rental flats have only the two small electric cook tops and a 1/3 size refrigerator? I have seen expensive new or newly remodeled flats like this and I just don't get it. Is it just a matter of being cheap? Why would you handicap your chances to rent by not including two of the most use appliances in the home? I am amazed at some of these flats that have clearly had a lot of money put into a remodel only to have this ridiculous hostel type kitchen installed.

If you're looking for the washing machine, it should be in the bathroom. I can't really guess what the other appliance would be, unless it's the dishwasher, and AFAIK dishwashers are seen as a bit of a needless luxury in Poland (unless you have a bunch of kids) (and I actually agree). I guess the idea is that if you want more stuff, you buy it yourself (and maybe take it off the rent or something). BTW I'm renting a nice flat in the UK and the fridge was not supplied by the landlord.

I don't think you understood. I was saying the lodowka and piekarnik are two of the most used appliances and often there is a tiny lodowka and a two burner kuchnia but no piekarnik. They spend a lot on a remodel and don't put proper appliances...I don't get it. I was not talking about washing machines.

My point is those two things are standard equipment and shouldn't need to be purchased by a renter. They are not something people would take with them when moving here. Just seems a lot of landlords are cheaping out in a big way here lately. All my flats before were well furnished but it's getting harder to find decent places.

It's funny you mentioned dishwashers as a lot of the flats I mentioned have these after a remodel....but no place to really cook...it's bizarre.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, but you said:


so I started thinking about stuff that was not included (in any form) ;-)

It must be a new trend with the tiny appliances, maybe more and more landlords think that hardly anyone cooks at home anymore? That it's somehow "trendy" and sends the right message? Or maybe, but this is in stark contrast to the obviously expensive refurbishment, they think they will end up renting to students and don't want the hassle with people cooking, using up gas and electricity (and maybe not paying the bills on time), and probably ruining the nice counter tops and tiles with burnt and spilt food. Who knows. I'm baffled. ;-)

Personally I was impressed by a clever Whirlpool combo I saw in Poland, just like the ones used in American studio apartments. A single compact unit combines a small fridge, 2- or 3-burner cooker and a kicthen sink. I was surprised these had made it over the big pond!

IKEA often does those.

The thing is there is room in the places I am talking about for normal everything. But instead you have 2km of cabinets and no oven or real refrigerator. And maybe a tiny one hole sink in the corner where you have to bend weird to get to it. It is really strange. Like it is a joke to see how awkward they can make the kitchen and see if people will notice.

If it's a letter's market (where flats are in short supply) the landlords make a better profit by skimping. But if flats are readily available and many are vacant, then they're making a mistake and cutting into their own revenue.

I've never heard of that situation.

Well, you wouldn't have, it's just one of those things :-)

I cannot speak for everywhere but in Warsaw a lot of flats have been empty for a long time in the listings. My personal belief is they are just lazy and cheap which seems common in construction quality and flat offerings here...but figured I would get attacked as being anti Polish for saying so.

A nice looking cheap kitchen is better for the landlord. Also, a lot of people in rental flats don't cook much. A nuisance for those who do.

It's not uncommon over here. I've rented a couple of properties in the past,both of which didn't have fridges or cookers.

It just depends on the landlord.

They often do the same in Germany as well, for example. The idea is that you spend a boatload on appliances, obviously you would move with them and put them in the new place. Often, you buy a home, as another example of this mentality, and all you get is the floor and walls. That's it. You paint it, put in what fixtures, etc. you want, put in your appliances. It's common and makes more sense than the dreary beiges we love here in the USA, since it sells the easiest so you get to paint it all beigy beigy and live in that colorless boredom until you sell. At least, that's my theory on that, and I have family in Germany and Poland who do construction and that's what they say as well on that matter.

Dont know about europe but in states its the law to have a refrigerator and electric cooking grill or gas stove or one will not get CO for a tenant.

eberhart

If the rental is a house it makes sense in a fitted kitchen to install a cooker with 4 tops + a big fridge but if it is a medium size flat for 2 people max, what 's the point ?

The tenant can always add a big fridge if he /she fancies that and unless he/she is cooking for 6 people a cooker with 2 tops + an oven and micro wave is enough.

In Krakow it is so easy to buy from take aways and reheat food and also order food on line to be delivered so no problem.

LwowskaKrakow

So people don't cook unless they are in groups of 3 or more? I find this assumption ridiculous. You don't know anything about cooking if you think a couple of cook tops and a microwave are "enough". The idea that takeaway food is readily available does not negate the need for proper appliances. What a silly attitude. There are public toilets all over so why bother with having one in the flat right? You don't really "need' it.

Remember a lot of people (especially single people and young couples) in Warsaw go back home at the weekend (returning with an armful of kielbasa, nalesniki and a cooked chicken) and work quite hard during the week. And therefore aren't too ambitious about cooking big dinners.

A lot is not all or most. This idea that people who live in rental flats in Warsaw never cook is stupid. It is also very untrue.

it is a significant enough number to influence the rental market. Like it or not, as you say in your first and original post 'so many' rental flats are in this situation.

How many tops do you need to cook yourself an omelette and pasta ? Lol .

Anyway each tenant has His /her priority : Some prefer location near work university,a big TV, others a perfectly equipped kitchen, or a very comfortable mattress, a bathtub and not a shower etc

Each tenant should visit and select his/her flat according to his/her priority.

In Warsaw there might be a shortage in prime locations so tenants are not too fussy.

Well, here in the UK (still in Europe), rented flats may contain no kitchen appliances and have no furniture whatsoever, or can come fully-furnished and include all appliances (and the landlord may refuse to remove even the most useless item of furniture).

There's no law regarding furnishings (except fire regulations), but we have strict laws on things like gas/electric installations (some landlords have been jailed for the deaths of tenants, due to faulty appliances).

The cheap two cook tops are too close together to use both at once often...and an oven is required to do more than student skillet dinners and soups. I pity your husband if that is your attitude toward food. Or are you one of those women who cannot cook at all? It is increasingly common and most girls here look at me like I am an alien when I can cook well.

NorthManc in the states empty is the usual....but Warsaw it has been fully furnished as the standard for the last ten years at least...but lately they are cheaping out more trying to get more money for less effort so more and more flats don't have much in them.

I love to cook but i understand that if you don't even have an oven , it could be difficult.

My idea is that it is fully in the interest of the owner to have a happy tenant so if a flat owner does not spend money on his property either he can't afford it or he wants a big turnover to be able to increase the rent with a new tenant every 6 months or every year.

Not every owner wants a long term tenant .