Question about Czynsz (Building maintenance fees/utilies) in Poland

Everyone renting a flat in Poland KNOWS that a tenant has to pay czynsz. It is the amount of the czynsz that you should question, but instead of asking the right people the right questions - you go off in a hissy fit and don't want to understand how things are done in Poland.

If you don't like where you live - move out and claim any overpaid amount from the landlord. End of.

to answer all your questions again:

1) why am I expected to pay "czynsz" - because it's how it works in Poland

2) why is it so high, is is scam - we don't know, it is very high, but we don't know the specific sitation of the building, it may be scam, it may be a building in a dire need of costly repairs, or with other isssues - if you want to know more you have to ask administration

3) why didn't the landlonrd tell you about that cost, and didn't include it in the contract- because he lied

4) why is area in the contract different than the real area- we don't know, what are those supposed to be, maybe the bigger area incudes basment, attic, balcony, antresola, maybe one of the areas in calculated by 2002 ISO code, and other calculated by 2014 Building law, or 1970s building code, or taxes law

5) what should I do- Get out of that place as fast as possible. Find real life help, could be a friend, could be a lawyer, could be a law student or someone who knows estate market.

6) what should I learn - in the next place you will have to pay "czynsz" as well, calculate it into all expences

ok Marieszynka and terri, you advise me to break the contract and pay extra, against what is written in the contract, just to make the lying owner richer... it is clear that Harry has much better advices, and I will just ignore whenever you write once again to break the contract and pay extra just to support the frauds of the owner.

But Thank you for everyone else who helped with ideas and thoughts

I did't tell you to pay extra. I told you to get real help, most preferably someone who knwe law, and/or the market. I just don't believe you can stay there, because- 1 landlord is not trustworthy and 2- If "opłaty miesięczne" for apartment and your "rent" that you pay the owner are on the same level, and you don't pay "czynsz", then the landlord doesn't earn anything, so he won't allow it, so I think it's better to find a way to leave the apartment. As to how to leave without losing your money- be careful. the owner already turned out to be untrusthwothy and the building you live is really uncommon,

And as i said before next time ask about it before renting.

Luckily or actually unluckily, the rent is 3.5 times higher than the "czynsz".

I looked at similar apartments in the same area, they're about 40% cheaper per month,
so definitely I must change the apartment.

The only question is how to get back the deposit that the owner took from me at the signing.

Thank you all

I saw three very regular even old polish flats that each one had czynsz of over 800 zl, one had czynsz 1100 zl

this is how some very lucrative thiefs ("real estate managers") are profiting from the naivety and kindness of humans

NO ONE is forcing you (with a gun to your head) to rent a flat/apartment from anyone.
If you don't like where you're living - move. If you are looking for somewhere else - make sure you know everything before you sign.

It really depends on what contract you sign, but the majority of rents include the maintenance fee within it as it is charged to the owner by the housing association which has been assigned to run the property within which the flat is situated. This is always the case, the housing association will not ever charge a tenant, only the owner. That fact that some owners then try to get an extra fee from tenants is down to poor negotiation or the tenant being seen as a soft touch. And really unless you sign a contract to pay it, nobody can force you to pay it and this is an open and shut case in court.

Often older flats have higher fees given that required future work is going to cost more than for a new build eg roof repairs/elevation etc. With new builds its usually just minor cosmetic repairs so fees for the owner tend to be lower.

Yes, that's right:

This is always the case, the housing association will not ever charge a tenant a maintanence fee or administrative bills, only the owner.

Terri was sadly dishonest the whole conversation