Get your deposit back

Deposits are governed by art. 6 of the Tenant Protection Act (ustawa o ochronie praw lokatorów, 21.06.2001). Four key facts:

• Maximum: 12× monthly rent for a regular lease, 6× for najem okazjonalny. In practice 1–2×.
• Return deadline: 1 month from the day you vacate the flat.
• Deductions allowed only for unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear. “Repainting because that's customary” is not a reason.
• Indexation: if you paid “two months of rent”, you get back two months of rent at the rate on the return date.

90% of deposit disputes are won or lost on the first day of the lease.

• Demand a protokół zdawczo-odbiorczy (handover protocol) as a contract annex: room condition, furniture, appliances, defects, meter readings.
• Photograph and film every room, every scratch and stain. File metadata dates are your witness.
• Every defect goes into the protocol in writing, however small. Both signatures, keep a copy.

• Report all issues in writing (messenger, e-mail). Verbal agreements don't exist in a dispute.
• Minor repairs (drobne naprawy: dripping tap, bulbs, hinges) are on the tenant by law; major ones (wiring, pipes, walls) on the landlord.
• Keep proof of every payment. Cash — only against a receipt (pokwitowanie).

Zużycie naturalne cannot be deducted from the deposit — that's the law and the courts' position.

• Normal: scuffed walls and floors, faded wallpaper, loose handles, furniture marks. Fill picture-hook holes before leaving.
• Damage: broken, burnt or flooded items; wrecked furniture; smoke smell; lost keys; unauthorised repainting.
• Rule: return it “as received, minus natural ageing”.

1. Clean the flat to “as received” condition.
2. Invite the landlord in writing to a handover on a specific day.
3. Draw up a move-out protocol: condition, meters, full key set. Photos/video again.
4. Hand over all keys against a signature.
5. Leave your bank account number in writing and remind them of the statutory 1-month deadline.

1. A reminder with a deadline (7 days), polite and written. Often enough.
2. Wezwanie do zapłaty — a formal demand letter, sent by registered mail with confirmation. Template below.
3. Claim statutory late-payment interest (odsetki ustawowe za opóźnienie).
4. Court: a payment claim (pozew o zapłatę). Up to 20 000 zł it's simplified procedure, online via e-sąd (EPU); fee from 30 zł. Evidence: contract, protocols, photos, correspondence, payment proofs. Tenants consistently win these.
5. Free help: nieodpłatna pomoc prawna — legal aid points in every powiat; NGOs also help foreigners.

• “The deposit went on repainting” — refreshing after normal use is the landlord's duty.
• “Professional cleaning with an invoice required” — the law doesn't require it; “clean as received” is enough.
• “No protocol, but it was perfect” — without a protocol, the burden of proof is on the claimant. Your move-in photos decide.
• “I'll pay later” — the landlord's finances don't suspend the one-month deadline. Deadline + interest.
• Silence — go straight to a registered demand letter: silence looks bad in court.

[Miejscowość], dnia [data]

[Imię i nazwisko najemcy]
[adres do korespondencji]
[telefon / e-mail]

Do: [Imię i nazwisko wynajmującego]
[adres]

WEZWANIE DO ZAPŁATY

Na podstawie art. 6 ust. 4 ustawy z dnia 21 czerwca 2001 r. o ochronie praw lokatorów wzywam do zwrotu kaucji zabezpieczającej w kwocie [kwota] zł, wpłaconej w związku z umową najmu lokalu przy ul. [adres lokalu], zawartą dnia [data umowy].

Lokal został zwrócony w dniu [data zwrotu] (protokół zdawczo-odbiorczy w załączeniu). Ustawowy miesięczny termin zwrotu kaucji upłynął w dniu [data].

Wpłaty proszę dokonać w terminie 7 dni od otrzymania niniejszego wezwania na rachunek bankowy:
[numer konta]

W przypadku braku zapłaty w wyznaczonym terminie skieruję sprawę na drogę postępowania sądowego, co narazi Pana/Panią na dodatkowe koszty (odsetki ustawowe za opóźnienie, koszty sądowe i zastępstwa procesowego).

Z poważaniem,
[podpis]