Rental Contract Checker
Review your Polish rental contract clause by clause. Check 30+ items covering essential terms, tenant rights, red flags, and legal requirements.
How to Review a Polish Rental Contract (Umowa Najmu)
Signing a rental contract in Poland without understanding every clause is one of the biggest risks for expats and international students. Polish leases (umowa najmu) often contain terms that differ significantly from rental agreements in other countries, and some landlords include clauses that are actually unenforceable under Polish tenant protection law. Knowing what to look for protects your rights and your money.
Our rental contract checker guides you through 30+ critical clauses, flagging red flags and explaining what Polish law actually requires. Key items include the deposit amount and return conditions (legally capped at 12 months rent), notice period for both parties, responsibility for repairs (drobne naprawy versus kapitalny remont), rules about subletting and guests, and whether the contract is standard najem or najem okazjonalny.
The difference between najem and najem okazjonalny is especially important for tenants to understand. Standard najem contracts give tenants strong eviction protections — a landlord needs a court order and often must provide alternative housing. Najem okazjonalny allows faster eviction but requires a notarized statement from the tenant. Both contract types have specific legal requirements, and our checklist ensures your agreement complies with Polish rental law.
- Never sign a contract only in Polish if you do not fully understand it — request an English translation or have a bilingual friend review it.
- Verify the landlord's ownership by requesting a copy of the akty wlasnosci or checking the Ksiega Wieczysta (land register) online.
- Ensure the contract specifies exactly which costs are included in rent and which are billed separately (media, czynsz administracyjny).
- Check that the notice period is fair for both sides — Polish law requires minimum notice periods that cannot be shortened by contract.
- Keep a signed original of the contract — do not rely solely on scanned or emailed copies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about rental contract checker
A valid umowa najmu must include: full names and IDs of both parties, property address, lease duration, rent amount, payment terms, deposit amount and return conditions, notice period, and signatures. It should also reference a move-in protocol.