Expired Apartment Leases in Warsaw Poland

Here's my situation. We have an apartment lease that expired while negotiating a kitchen remodel with our landlord. He decided he did not want to do it but wanted to increase our rent anyway. We gave notice (even though expired) but asked if we can move out at the end of the month instead and he agreed (after first trying to talk us into staying without an increase - note his other apartment right next to us has been vacant at least 3 out of the 5 years we've been here). This was all done through emails through our company. I had a Polish translator friend write up a bilingual Termination Agreement where we covered some of the items like improvements we made (with his permission) while we were here and some items we don't want to take but know the next tenants would probably appreciate so are leaving them. I was also warned by other Polish friends that we need to make sure the landlord signs and STAMPS the Termination Agreement just in case he wants to play games afterward - then we have it all in writing. I've been told that if we went to court and didn't have this, we would probably lose.

Does anyone know of a specific law that pertains to the proper termination and documentation that should be obtained or provided? I have heard all kinds of rumors about how landlords in Poland will try to find any way to keep your deposit or charge you back for something.

If your contract has expired and you renewed it for a long term contract, the termination period is automatically 3 months unless otherwise agreed.

I'm a bit lost, how is this different to, for example, a one year rental on an apartment? My contract says 1 month's notice (before the end of any month) is all that's needed. Why are some 3 months? Am I misunderstanding some difference?

I usually get along fine with my landlord and hope she won't keep my deposit, she's so minted that I don't know why she'd need to cheapen herself by behaving badly, but if she did I suppose I'd have to take her to court to get it back. That's one thing I don't like about renting here.

You have a contract for a fixed period of time 6-12 months with one month termination for both parties, at the end of the contract if you decide to extend the contract indefinite your new contract will automatically require a three month notice period. In your case Inwro you ask for a further 6-12 month contract and go through the whole procedure of signing it, many landlords do not want the agency to redraft a new contract as there are normally fees/commissions to pay by the lessor, they also realize by law they are locking the lessee in to a long term contract by not have a new fixed contract.

Thanks W/ski. So, any actual renewal needs 3 months, but a legally 'new' 6- or 12-month doesn't. Understood now, thx