Landlord Verification Checklist

How to Verify Your Landlord Before Signing a Lease in Poland

Rental scams targeting expats and international students are a real risk in Poland's major cities. Scammers create fake listings with stolen photos, impersonate property owners, and pressure victims to wire deposits before viewings. This landlord verification checklist walks you through every step of confirming that the person you are dealing with actually owns the property and has the legal right to rent it to you.

Poland's public land registry system (ksiega wieczysta) is your most powerful verification tool. Every property in Poland is registered at ekw.ms.gov.pl, and you can look up ownership for free by entering the property's registry number. The owner listed there should match the ID of the person signing your lease. If a landlord refuses to provide this number or cannot explain a mismatch, treat it as a serious red flag.

Beyond ownership verification, this checklist covers identity checks, contract red flags, payment safety, and what to do if something feels wrong. Polish law requires landlords to have specific documentation, and legitimate landlords will not hesitate to provide it. Taking 30 minutes to verify these details can save you thousands of PLN and weeks of legal headaches.

• Always verify property ownership at ekw.ms.gov.pl before paying any deposit — this free database shows the registered owner of every property in Poland.
• Never wire money (especially via Western Union or cryptocurrency) before viewing an apartment in person and verifying the landlord's identity.
• Ask the landlord for a copy of their dowod osobisty (ID card) and compare the name to the property registry — mismatches are a major red flag.
• If renting through an agency, verify they are registered in the CEIDG business registry at ceidg.gov.pl.
• Take screenshots of the listing, all messages, and the landlord's details before any meeting — if it is a scam, you will need this evidence.