Tenant Eviction Rules and Legal Process in Poland — Know Your Rights

In Poland, tenants are protected by the Act on Tenant Protection, Housing Resources of Communes, and Amendments to the Civil Code, which sets strict rules landlords must follow before evicting anyone. Eviction is never an overnight process — landlords must have valid legal grounds, provide proper notice, and in most cases obtain a court order. Understanding these rules can protect you from illegal removal and help you respond effectively if you receive an eviction notice.

⚖️ Your Key Rights

• ✓You have the right to remain in your home until a court issues a valid eviction order — a landlord cannot forcibly remove you, change your locks, or cut off utilities to pressure you to leave.
• ✓You have the right to receive written notice of termination of your tenancy, with notice periods set by law depending on the reason for eviction and how often you pay rent.
• ✓You are entitled to a fair court hearing where you can present your case and challenge the grounds for eviction before any removal takes place.
• ✓Certain groups — including pregnant women, minors, people with disabilities, and those over 75 years old — have enhanced protection and cannot be evicted to the street without the commune first offering alternative social housing.
• ✓A landlord may only terminate your tenancy on specific legal grounds, such as non-payment of rent for at least three months, using the property for purposes other than agreed, causing significant damage, or subletting without permission.
• ✓You are protected against 'self-help' evictions: any landlord who removes you without a court order or bailiff enforcement can face criminal liability for violating your home's inviolability.
• ✓If your lease ends but you have not found alternative housing, you may apply to the commune (gmina) for social housing, and courts take this into account when scheduling enforcement of eviction orders.

🚀 What To Do

1. 1Read any notice you receive carefully: check whether it is in writing, whether the stated reason is a legally valid ground, and whether the notice period given matches what the law requires for your situation — keep this document safe.
2. 2Do not ignore the notice — respond in writing to the landlord within the timeframe given, either disputing the grounds or proposing a solution such as a repayment plan for rent arrears, and keep copies of all correspondence.
3. 3If you believe the eviction is unjust or the process was not followed correctly, consult a free legal aid centre (Nieodpłatna Pomoc Prawna) available in every powiat (county) in Poland, or contact a tenant rights organisation.
4. 4If the landlord files a court case against you (to a local district court — Sąd Rejonowy), you will receive a summons; respond to it in writing before the deadline and attend the hearing to present your defence.
5. 5If the court rules against you, check the judgment for the enforcement date and whether the court has ordered a social housing assessment — you may be entitled to a delay in enforcement while the commune looks for alternative accommodation for you.
6. 6If enforcement proceeds, it must be carried out by a licensed court bailiff (komornik); if anyone other than a bailiff attempts to physically remove you, call the police as this is a criminal act.

🔗 Official Resources