Is it normal that property companies ask you for a payment for services?

Hi,

I found quite a nice place in the Krakow area, the rent is 1950pln a month + bills.
It's a real estate company who is renting it ou for an owner abroad.
The company says they want a 2300zl commission when I would take the flat.
On top of that, they would want one months rent as caution (which is normal).
But 2300zl for just renting out a place seems quite a lot, since they are just the person "in between" the owner & you, so I wonder if it's normal/common/accepted that these "commissions" are asked upon a let agreement.

Kind regards and thanks!

Yes the commission or finders fee from the agencies is standard practice in Poland. Funny thing is most of these agencies don't have the slightest clue of what they are selling. Looking for flats for rent, you'd be amazed how many of these "agents" never had even been to the place before.

It is a total scam. I got hit with the same thing when i got my place. Never do business through the estate agents.

I agree it sounds like a total scam, but as a foreigner, it's hard to find the real owners since most of them rent it through a agency.

I just think that their commission is even higher then the rent!

Plus on top of that they want a caution as high as the rent, and what if you decide to move after a few months, u have to pay them again when there is an agency involved?

Thanks already!

Yep you keep paying the agency fee everytime you get a new place. Welcome to Poland. You can find individual renters who don't deal with agencies on site's like gumtree.pl

polish estate agents tend to be chancing cowboys taking as much money as they can from all parties and rarely doing anything to deserve it. they all insist you dont sign with anyone else, take your business and then sit back on the off-chance that someone calls them about your property

ive had better luck all round via private adverts, both as buyer, seller and renter

Normally on your contract, if you move out after couple of months, they will take the deposit, plus they would be within rights to charge you the full years rent. I had this situation with my previous landlord. After six months i decided to move on as i thought the rent was to high, plus bills were huge! I gave him 1 month noticed, and he said it was fine, and he would give me back deposit when new tennants moved in. Guess what, after i moved out i got a phone call from his agent asking for full years rent and my deposit wouldnt be given back to me. Plus the cheeky bugger used the phone and sent a bill to me for 600pln in 1 month.

Best thing is to avoid agents, and if you have to use them. Get contracts which are water tight, and have an escape clause!!


also beware, alot of agents use this site and make the ad's look like normal ones;)

So from all I can read here you would all strongly discourage the usage of agents when renting a property?
As a foreigner, it is hard to find it without an agency since I don't understand most of the ads in the first place...
But if I can save 2300zl, then I sure will try!
Btw, do they give you an official invoice and receipt for that 2300zl too?

They should give you receipt.
Last agency i used, made me pay 500pln to "sign" on with them.
Then 2500pln for finders fee...plus they got another 2500pln from owners for "finding" me!!!!

I wouldn't discourage, i would rather condem them:D