Poland is fighting the housing crisis with a bold concept: tenants who are willing to renovate their rented home themselves receive a discount on their rent. In cities like Krakow, the program has attracted hundreds of applicants - despite the hard work. Against the backdrop of rising property prices, this model gives hope to families and people who have been excluded from the market until now.
For many, this is a path to their dream home. For example, for 30-year-old Aleksandra Skora. She has decided to rent an apartment in the city of Kielce, where she works as a pastry chef. It urgently needs renovation, but the young woman is delighted - she will renovate it herself and pay only half the rent. "This place is frozen in time, but I want to breathe new life into it," she says.
"The walls, the floors, the heating system, the electrical installation, the water supply system - all of this needs repair. "I will handle most of the renovation work myself, but I will leave some things to the experts," says Aleksandra Skora. This means that the young woman is ready to invest a lot in this apartment, even though it is not hers. But in return, she will pay lower rent. In fact, in Poland, almost 90% of the population owns their own home.
Large families have higher chances
The "Renovate to Rent" program is now in its fourth year, but due to the high number of applicants, applicants are selected on a lottery basis.
Ula Wronska is a mother of five. The family lives in Krakow, Poland's second largest city, and was recently approved for a rental apartment located very close to the children's school. When selecting tenants, officials also take into account the size of the household: the more children in the family, the better their chances.
As in many other Polish cities, apartment prices in Krakow have skyrocketed - by about 30 percent in 2024 alone, and most young people cannot afford to rent their own home. This year, a total of 180 apartments are being offered in the city under the program. In most of them, everything needs to be replaced.
Edita Pawłoczek from Kielce knows what she's talking about. She has been waiting for this moment for 27 years, so a few more months of dusty renovations are no problem, she says. So far, the woman has invested about 70,000 euros in a home that she does not own. She also pays rent - although much lower than the market value.
"Everyone wins"
According to the mayor of Kielce, Agata Wojda, both sides benefit from the program - both the people and the city. "People who pay lower rent live in these homes. So for our city, these apartments serve a dual function - financial and social."
Anna Payonk is also participating in the program. She says she owes her dream home to her. She completely renovated the apartment and lives there with her son, their godson and their pet spider. She is proud that she designed everything herself. "After I got the keys to the apartment, I went to church and prayed to God to give me the strength to do all this", the woman says.
With or without God's help, the Polish model could serve as an example for many other countries and cities where housing has become a luxury.
Author: Axel Rovolt