How to check a flat in Poland before you buy
A listing tells you the size of a flat and what it looks like. Whether the purchase is safe depends on the paperwork. Here's what to check and where.
The land register (księga wieczysta)
Ask the seller for the land register number and view it for free in the Ministry of Justice EKW system. Check that the seller is listed as the owner in section II, that section III shows no easements, claims or enforcement notes, and what mortgage is entered in section IV. We explain how to read a land register separately.
The building and plot
Enter the address in NieroCheck and compare the plot number with the one in the land register. Look at the building outline and the plot boundary on the map. If the building stands on several plots, or the plot is much larger than the building, ask who owns the rest of the land and whether you are buying a share of it.
Arrears and charges
Ask the housing cooperative or the community manager for a certificate that there are no unpaid charges, and for the current monthly fee. Ask about planned repairs and the repair fund. A major roof or façade renovation can raise charges for years.
Who is registered there
Being registered at an address (zameldowanie) gives no right to the flat, but the contract should set a date by which the seller and anyone else moves out and hands over the flat.
The local zoning plan
Check with the municipality, or on its geoportal, whether a local zoning plan (MPZP) covers the area and what it allows next door. An empty plot outside your window can become a building site.
The energy performance certificate
Since 28 April 2023 the seller must hand the buyer an energy performance certificate (świadectwo charakterystyki energetycznej). It shows how much energy the building uses, which drives heating bills.
Technical condition
View the flat in daylight and in the evening. Check the wiring, damp in corners, the windows and water pressure. In an older building, ask for the latest building and gas inspection reports. For a large purchase, bring a building engineer.
Costs
Add PCC tax, the notary and court fees to the price. Work them out in the buying costs calculator.
Updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.