Renting Your Apartment to Ukrainian Refugees in Poland: Combining Compassion with Risk
Recently, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has been ongoing since February 2022, has resulted in a significant influx of Ukrainian refugees to Poland. As a landlord, you may consider renting your apartment to provide refugees with the shelter they need. This article offers a comprehensive guide on the topic, combining information from two different sources to give you a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
The Importance of Renting Apartments to Ukrainian Refugees
Ukrainian citizens have become an important group in the Polish rental market due to the ongoing war in their homeland. As the end of the conflict remains uncertain, the rental market has adapted to meet growing demand. While bargain rentals are more popular now than they were before 2022, they offer some benefits to landlords, such as greater flexibility in rent adjustments and simplified eviction procedures. However, it is worth understanding that renting an apartment to Ukrainian refugees involves certain rules and risks.
Special Rules and Exceptions
In response to Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Polish government introduced an act on March 12, 2022, aimed at helping Ukrainian citizens affected by the conflict. This Act contains provisions regarding occasional rentals. Importantly, Article 69 of this Act specifies that these provisions do not apply to occasional rental agreements with citizens of Ukraine.
Determination of Refugee Status
In practice, it can be difficult to determine whether a tenant should be treated as a war refugee. In order for the provisions enabling quick termination of the lease to apply, the tenant must update his or her “eviction address” and provide a declaration from the person with legal title to such place.
Balancing Risk and Compassion
The exclusion of Ukrainian citizens who are refugees from the obligation to indicate an “emergency” place of residence in the event of eviction is due to humanitarian reasons. It is difficult to expect that a refugee who has left his apartment in Ukraine, sometimes in a combat zone, will provide an alternative address in Poland. Nevertheless, apartment owners should be aware that occasional rentals under special conditions involve certain risks.
Risks for the Owner
One potential risk of occasional rentals, including to Ukrainian refugees, is the possibility of the court granting an enforcement clause to the tenant’s notarial declaration of submission to enforcement. This statement constitutes the basis for the bailiff’s actions. If the court accepts the tenant’s complaint, the eviction procedure will follow the standard rules, including the eviction application, the court judgment and the tenant’s waiting for social housing or a temporary room. Some tenants may also request a stay of enforcement proceedings while the complaint is being considered.
Summary
Renting an apartment to Ukrainian refugees in Poland is an act of compassion and solidarity. Provides shelter and support to people in need. However, it is important to be aware of the specific rules, risks, and legal issues involved in providing housing to refugees, as outlined in this guide.
By combining information from various sources, we strive to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and responsibilities associated with renting an apartment to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Your willingness to help in these difficult times deserves recognition.
