Are the tenants responsible? - question about renting property in Poland

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide

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Edited by: dnz Mar 17, 10, 12:34 #1

Just a quick question,

I've lived in 3 flats since I arrived in Poland and usually when something broke the landlord would come and get it fixed with no questions asked in the same way they would in the UK,

In our current flat the toilet has been broken since we moved in ie won't shut the water off once the cistern is full and its constantly throwing water down the toilet. We told the owner of the flat and she told us that in Poland the tenants are responsible for all repairs to the flat,

Now I understand and full respect that if the flat was damaged due to wild parties etc and actual malicious damage then we would be liable.

But under property law are the tenants responsible for things simply breaking due to being poorly fitted etc as the whole apartment is less than 2 years old and is built to a truly appalling standard.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as we have just received our water bill which is double because of this problem.

I'm leaving for Aus in a matter of weeks but My G/f was going to be staying in the flat till her contract ends at her school and we are contemplating just throwing back the keys and telling her where to go as this is at the end of a long string of problems we've had with the apartment which at nearly 2000 pln per month is at the upper end of the rental market for a 2 bed apartment.

Wroclaw BoyThreads: 57 Posts: 5,478 Joined: Jul 3, 09 MEMBER ♂	Mar 17, 10, 18:30 #2
dnz: In our current flat the toilet has been broken since we moved in ie won't shut the water off once the cistern is full and its constantly throwing water down the toilet. That should be easily fixed by turning the screw on the stop cock, set it lower so is shuts of the tap. That would really annoy me knowing id be paying the water bill.

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Edited by: jonni Mar 17, 10, 18:52 #3

dnz:

we are contemplating just throwing back the keys and telling her where to go as this is at the end of a long string of problem

I would leave, and make sure you don't pay the final rent in full (maybe leave mid month) or the water bill at all - the flat's owner needs to learn a lesson.

If she's charging top dollar to non-Polish tenants, she has to be shown understand that she must provide something better than Polish levels of service.

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂	Mar 17, 10, 19:06 #4
Turn all the taps on full...and leg it....

dnzThreads: 25 Posts: 804 Joined: Dec 2, 07 ♂	Mar 17, 10, 19:09 #5
We are leaving but I just wondered if tenents in PL are expected to pay for things when they break or if she's trying to pull a fast one,

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂	Mar 17, 10, 19:13 #6
dnz: or if she's trying to pull a fast one, In Poland...! you can,t be serious...?

dnzThreads: 25 Posts: 804 Joined: Dec 2, 07 ♂	Mar 17, 10, 19:20 #7
wildrover: In Poland...! you can,t be serious...? I know it sounds nasty but since living here I really find it difficult trusting poles as they all seem to be trying to rob me blind in one way or another.

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂	Mar 17, 10, 19:31 #8
I am lucky to have some Polish friends that i can trust completly..but like you i have also met many that think that because i am English i am ...A..... very rich and...B .....very stupid....Thankfully most people who know me now realise i am neither...

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Edited by: f stop Mar 17, 10, 20:02 #9

dnz:

We told the owner of the flat and she told us that in Poland the tenants are responsible for all repairs to the flat,

obviously that is not true, but keep in mind that the best tenants are those that will try an easy fix themselves before they call a landlord about something like their stuck toilet handle. If it's more complicated, some enterprizing tenants will give a landlord a call to discuss how much the repairs could be done for (who can google it faster... joke!) and whether the landlord has to fly in to supervise.
I am a landlord myself, and when considering a new tenant, I try to figure out if this is the one will be calling me in when a lighbulb in the courtyard burns out.
I'd love to get a Polish guy as a tenant. All the ones I know would go bats if they couldn't figure out how to fix something themselves. Which can also be bad, but that's another matter..

dnzThreads: 25 Posts: 804 Joined: Dec 2, 07 ♂	Mar 17, 10, 20:16 #10
Its the toilet cistern which is broken, its hidden in the wall and i've had a look at it and the water shut off valve is broken, I offered to get my friend to fix it free of charge as he works for the manufacturer and he would do it so long as we can get the reciept of purchase. She ignored this and told us to pay to get it fixed,

f stopThreads: 33 Posts: 2,861 Joined: Dec 9, 09 ♀	Edited by: f stop Mar 17, 10, 20:28 #11
ok.. never mind then. That is way more serious. I'd get out.

westminster 293	Mar 17, 10, 22:30 #12
wildrover: I am lucky to have some Polish friends that i can trust completly I think that that is the key when you live in Poland. I was like that when I lived there, they guided me and looked after me. Maybe its just a Northern thing that they take to you. I always compared Krakow to the North-East of England, very similar characters, and very similar upbringings.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended]	Mar 18, 10, 09:24 #13
wildrover: Turn all the taps on full...and leg it.... A masterly plan.

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