The internet has been buzzing about exorbitant rental prices and cramped living spaces for quite some time now. Landlords often make unreasonable offers to students, forcing them to look for micro-apartments to avoid the high monthly rental costs of regular flats.

Screenshots of such absurd rental offers are regularly posted on X. From these posts, we may conclude that it is now standard for a toilet and shower to be fitted just a meter away from the bed. Landlords are eager to divide regular flats into smaller units to maximise profits.

The Polish government has taken measures to tackle the issue of "patho-development". On 1 August, an amendment to the law will come into effect regulating the minimum floor space of residential buildings to prevent the creation of micro-apartments. However, some developers who prioritise profit over the well-being of residents are unhappy about the new regulations because flats and business premises will now have to be at least 25 square metres in size.

According to lawyer Maciej Górski, smaller non-residential premises will be allowed on the ground or first floor only if they have a direct entrance from the street. This will enable greater independence for such premises and facilitate land and mortgage registration.

Certain institutions are exempt from complying with the new legislation. The amendment will not affect hotels, motels, boarding houses, holiday homes, student residences, monastic houses, orphanages, and barracks. Additionally, single-family buildings with separate commercial premises will not be affected.

Source: Rzeczpospolita