property
What Renters Can Do When Leases End Amid Tight Supply
Warsaw tenants whose contracts expire this summer face limited options in a market where vacancy rates sit below 2 percent.
How we reported this
More than 4,800 rental contracts in Warsaw are scheduled to end between July and September 2026, according to data compiled by the city’s housing registry.
The squeeze stems from continued low construction completions in the private rental segment and rising demand from workers relocating to the capital’s expanding tech and finance districts. With new-build delivery numbers for 2025 falling 11 percent short of projections, available units have stayed scarce since the start of the year.
Tenants in Mokotów and Śródmieście report the sharpest pressure. The Warsaw Municipal Housing Office has expanded its short-term relocation list, while the Praga-Północ district office now routes applicants to a refurbished block on ulica 11 Listopada that opened last month with 92 units.
Market numbers show little room to negotiate
City-wide average asking rents for a 45-square-metre two-room flat reached 2,850 złoty a month in June 2026, up 9 percent from the same period last year. In central postcodes the figure climbs to 3,400 złoty. Purchase prices for comparable flats average 14,200 złoty per square metre, but mortgage rates remain above 6.8 percent, keeping many households in the rental pool.
Steps available before the notice period runs out
Landlords must give 30 days’ written notice under the 2023 Tenant Protection Act, giving renters a short window to act. Tenants can register with the city’s rental matching service run from the Palace of Culture and Science annex, which currently lists 310 subsidised units. Others are contacting cooperatives in Żoliborz and Bielany that accept applications for rooms in shared flats at fixed rates capped at 1,900 złoty. A smaller group has begun viewing properties in the outer districts of Ursynów and Bemowo, where commutes via the S2 expressway or metro line M1 still reach central offices inside 35 minutes. Those who secure a new lease early are advised to lock in the rate with a three-month deposit rather than risk further increases when autumn listings appear.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.