We have already reported on the changes that are expected to take place on FXMAG. Now the draft amendment to the law has appeared in the Government Legislative Center. It proposes changes to the Act on Social Housing Resources, which aims to consolidate all provisions related to social housing construction that are currently scattered across various laws.
You can no longer buy back housing from the municipality
The government’s proposed rules will distinguish two types of housing: those in the social rental resource and those in the social tenancy resource. In each category different income thresholds will apply, determining eligibility to apply for renting such a unit. The allocation rules will also change, and overall access to housing is expected to increase. This is thanks to a new financing model for these types of investments. Funds will go directly to investors, which should shorten the administrative process for ongoing projects. According to the change authors, the subsidy system will be fairer because it will also take into account the financial situation of the local government receiving the support. Municipalities will gain greater control over the projects they implement. And that’s not the only change. The next one is limiting the possibility of buying housing outright. Until now, this was possible at preferential rates. Now, properties built with grant support will remain in the municipality’s stock for life. All of this is to ensure an adequate number of municipal housing units, which are still lacking in local governments. The exception will be units whose construction is financed through preferential loans. In that case, buying the units will be possible, but under specific conditions.
“Implementing the proposed solutions will streamline the housing construction support system, ensure consistency and transparency of financial mechanisms, and also contribute to increasing housing availability for people with low and moderate incomes and improving students’ living conditions,” says Deputy Minister of Development and Technology Tomasz Lewandowski.
Will the changes increase housing availability?
The changes proposed by the Ministry of Development and Technology theoretically aim to improve the housing situation in Poland – experts in the real estate market believe. They note that some of these have been expected by society for years.
“Focusing on municipal and social housing is a logical direction – where the private market does not provide affordable housing, the public sector must fill the gap. This solution is especially needed in large cities where prices rise faster than wages,” says Tomasz Błeszyński.
The real estate market expert also points out that despite the ambitious plans for changes, there are aspects in the proposed regulations that raise doubts.
“The biggest risk of the strategy lies in its operational implementation. There are no details – it is unclear who will build the housing, on what land, and at what pace. Without clear procedures, the document remains a declaration, not an action plan,” notes Tomasz Błeszyński.
And that’s not all. The implementation of the adopted housing assumptions also remains in question.
“The public sector’s inefficiency is a serious limitation. Municipalities in Poland build an average of about a thousand units per year, and social construction is practically non-existent. Billion-dollar declarations in the budget do not guarantee that housing will be built – the funds alone do not automatically translate into homes without a system of control and coordination,” emphasizes Tomasz Błeszyński, real estate market advisor.
See also: Ambitious plans or empty declarations? The government’s housing strategy for 2026
