In May 2025, the number of rental apartment searches on Otodom exceeded 1.1 million, and the number of queries containing terms like “student housing,” “close to university,” or “for studies” rose by a remarkable 83% year-on-year. The most common request? A two-room apartment for no more than 3,000 PLN per month. The rental market is clearly adapting to the seasonal surge in student demand.
“Although the absolute numbers may suggest stagnation, the dynamics of student demand paint a different picture. We’re seeing strong seasonality – May is when the market begins to awaken. The pre-season phase is just starting, but a warning sign may be the decreasing availability of apartments with the most searched-for features, especially in large cities,” explains Milena Chełchowska, a housing market expert at Otodom.
What Are Students Searching For?
Two-room apartments are currently dominating the search rankings, accounting for 54.6% of all queries. That’s one percentage point more than in April and only 0.8 percentage points below the peak during last year’s summer season. As for the price expectations: 30% of users looking for two-room units capped their monthly rental budget at 3,000 PLN, 20% searched within a 2,500 PLN limit, and 17% were willing to go up to 3,500 PLN.
Otodom data indicates a noticeable shift compared to both April 2025 and May 2024. There is a growing share of searches that involve higher rental budgets.
“There’s a clear shift toward higher budgets. But that doesn’t mean students want to pay more – it’s just increasingly difficult to find a flat that meets specific expectations within a lower price range. Similarly, the rising share of two-room apartments in searches is not just about changing preferences. It’s also a reaction to market supply. Students may be exploring options for comfort and privacy at a reasonable cost – but finding that compromise is getting harder,” Chełchowska adds.
Rental Supply is Shrinking
In May 2025, Otodom listed more than 45,800 apartments available for rent. That’s significantly fewer than in the same month last year and even less than in April 2025. However, the number of listings explicitly describing properties as suitable for students grew to 2,000 in May – a higher figure than the previous month. These listings made up 4.35% of all rental offers, showing a noticeable seasonal uptick.
The student-focused segment of rental listings is becoming more prominent. This seasonal pattern typically peaks in September – in 2024, listings labeled “student-friendly” made up 7% of all offers. The increase usually begins in March, and this year the trend is starting earlier. The number of student-designated apartments varies by location, with mid-sized cities boasting vibrant academic communities – like Olsztyn, Lublin, and Białystok – leading the way. In these cities, student rentals accounted for more than 12% of the total listings in May.
A Competitive Season Ahead
“The rental market in Poland – although currently limited in supply – is entering its pre-season phase. At the same time, Otodom’s May 2025 data show increased student activity, stronger interest in two-room apartments, and a gradual rise in listings described as student-appropriate. With limited supply and growing budget expectations, this student rental season could be both intense and highly competitive,” concludes Chełchowska.
Source: CEO.com.pl
