In 2026, tenants may feel an increase in housing costs not only due to rent indexation. According to analyses by the GetHome.pl portal, although inflation-based rent increases are now much lower than in previous years, rising utility charges mean that the total cost of maintaining an apartment continues to grow noticeably.
“For long-term lease agreements, meaning those concluded for more than one year, it is recommended to include a so-called indexation clause. Thanks to this clause, the landlord can automatically increase the rent by the annual average consumer price index. The tenant cannot challenge such an increase, but on the other hand gains predictability in terms of expenses,”
explains Marek Wielgo, an expert at GetHome.pl.
The President of Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS) has just announced that in 2025—just like the year before—the average annual inflation rate amounted to 3.6%. This means that for a rent of PLN 3,000, the increase typically applied in February may amount to PLN 108, provided the landlord chooses to exercise this right.
This limitation stems from regulations designed to protect tenants from excessive rent increases. In practice, landlords usually avoid exceeding this threshold in order to maintain good relations with tenants.
What if there is no indexation clause?
Without an indexation clause in the lease agreement, an automatic rent increase based on inflation is not possible. In such cases, the landlord must apply at least a three-month notice period for a rent increase. This notice must be made in writing, under penalty of invalidity—meaning that sending a text message or an email informing the tenant of the rent change is not sufficient.
Marek Wielgo emphasizes that thanks to lower inflation, this year’s rent indexation is relatively modest compared with recent years. For comparison, in 2023 it reached 14.4%, and a year later 11.4%. On the other hand, some landlords choose to waive rent indexation altogether or apply it less frequently than once a year.
“Landlords are increasingly aware that tenants’ budgets are not elastic—especially since tenants are also burdened with other costs related to maintaining the apartment,”
Wielgo notes.
Utilities are the real driver of rising costs
In addition to rent, tenants must also pay for heating, water, wastewater disposal, waste collection, and electricity bills.
“Unfortunately, housing maintenance is one of the fastest-growing items in the household budgets of many Polish families,”
comments the GetHome.pl expert.
According to the latest data from GUS, in 2025 housing-related costs, including utilities, were 7.3% higher year on year—a pace exceeding the overall inflation rate. The most painful increases were seen in waste collection fees, which rose by 11.6% year on year. Water supply costs increased by 8.4%, wastewater disposal by 7.3%, electricity prices by an average of 13.3%, and gas prices by 10.2%. Only district heating costs, which rose by 3.1%, increased more slowly than inflation.
Short-term leases dominate the Polish rental market
Marek Wielgo also points out the specific characteristics of the Polish rental market. At market conditions, lease agreements are most often concluded for one year or even shorter periods (for example, for students). In such cases, the use of an indexation clause is not necessary.
For landlords, the expiration of a lease provides an opportunity to raise the rent or part ways with a problematic tenant. For tenants, a one-year contract can also be advantageous—for instance, if a better offer appears on the market. Of course, such annual agreements can be extended, but in that case the landlord is no longer bound by any limits on rent increases and may raise the rent as long as market conditions allow.
According to GUS data, payments made to landlords increased by an average of 4.3% last year. In simple terms, this market-based form of “rent indexation” was therefore more favorable for tenants than inflation-based indexation. However, in the two preceding years, it was precisely inflation-linked indexation that proved to be the less favorable option for tenants.
Tenants’ strategies are becoming increasingly important
The GetHome.pl expert admits that in an environment of rising housing maintenance costs, tenants’ own strategies are becoming increasingly important. Some choose to negotiate rent levels when renewing contracts, especially if they are reliable and trouble-free tenants. Others opt for shorter-term agreements, which provide greater flexibility and the ability to respond more quickly to changing market conditions.
Source: ceo.com.pl
