Advice needed on rent debt in Poland? A government flat shared with other person.

I am writing on behalf of my Polish girlfriend who lives in Warsaw and has been saving up to try and come to stay with me in the UK.

She shares a government flat with an older guy, who she found out this week hasn't been paying the rent (despite her giving him her half every month). Now she has received a letter from the landlord saying she is liable for the whole debt, despite the fact that she has been paying him every month.

I was just wondering if the Polish law makes her liable for the full debt in the way she seems to think? Does anyone know of anywhere - either in English or Polish language, where we can get some advice and information?

I'd really appreciate any help - this is causing her a lot of stress and worry.

Thanks,

John.

cannot help,
No offense but did ever occurred to you that she may be feeding you a "story"? (with an objective)
Sorry for hinting the obvious but.


and


Is not logical.
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dont you smell BS JOhn?

Depends on what's in the contract. Assuming there is one.


Sounds like a sublet, in which case it's probably illegal anyway. Or if the landlord's actually a public body (usually the city not government) she would only be liable if it was a joint tenancy and in Warsaw many people with mieszkanie komunalny rarely if ever pay.

Of course the young lady wouldn't be asking for money of course.

Haha, thanks for the feedback. Yeah, it did occur to me that this could be a lot of nonsense - yeah.

But I've met the guy a few times - it all seems to be true. And when I used the word 'landlord' that was my bad choice of words. I just don't know exactly how it works over there - who the rent goes to. A housing association or something? The city of Warsaw?

The lady isn't asking me for money - don't worry! Thanks for the concern though - honestly. I appreciate it.

To Jon357 - yeah, it seems as if its an illegal sublet, but he's claiming he's added her to the official documents now, saying that makes her jointly liable.

Here in Scotland, even under an illegal sublet, someone sharing a flat wouldn't be liable for accumulated debts - but she seems to think the law is different in Poland. I take it you all think this is bad information?

Thanks again for the feedback - its certainly making me think!

It all sounds very odd. With mieszkanie komunalne (rented from the city) he would need not only her written permission to add her, but also permission from the city housing department - something that's hard to get - just like becoming a council tenant in the UK, except the flats are in even shorter supply and the waiting list longer.

Housing associations rarely rent flats to people nowadays, in Warsaw at least - almost all occupants own the flats as a kind of leasehold and just pay service a charge and in any case, again she couldn't just be added without consent.

Unless....

...what he's in fact done is gone to the town hall and registered her as living at that address (if he has the right to do so), a document called a meldunek, in which case there is no financial obligation whatsoever - it's rather like being on the electoral roll with a few differences that do not involve money.

Thanks, Jon357 - I really appreciate it. That's a really helpful and detailed answer. Thank you for your time and help!