Poles in 2025 decided to start construction of 4,075 single‑family houses based on a notification. Compared to 2024, the increase was 13.6%. This is not the only indicator showing that such properties are gaining popularity among residents of our country. The share of houses built on a notification rose to 5.2%. In 2024 and 2023 this indicator was 4.7%, and in 2022 it was 3.6%, in 2021 - 3%, and in 2020 - 2.1%.
As the report by the Main Office of Construction Supervision (GUNB) shows, most of these buildings were 70‑meter houses. There were 20,199, which means a growth of 31.9% compared to 2024.
Poles benefit from new regulations
Depending on the region of Poland, the popularity of small houses varies. The construction of the most of these structures in 2025 began in Masovia - 857, meaning that one in five new single‑family houses is a building up to 70 square meters. According to GUNB, many such buildings are also being built in the Pomeranian province - 452 and Greater Poland - 424.
Why do Poles choose to take advantage of the possibility of building small residential buildings? There are several reasons. First, they are cheaper to build than standard houses, which certainly attracts investors. Second, for the past three years, like with houses under 70 square meters, it is possible to build structures over 70 m² that are no taller than two stories. Importantly, they must be objects that meet the investor’s housing needs. They cannot be intended for rent or sale. Third, the construction time for this type of investment is shorter, which in many cases determines the choice of this type of property.
Houses and apartments are getting smaller
The fact that the popularity of 70‑meter houses is rising should not be surprising, given the increasing costs of building a house, which keep investors awake at night. Higher prices for materials and construction services mean that Poles are choosing to build smaller and smaller structures. The fact that a smaller house means cheaper maintenance is also significant. Rapidly rising energy prices play an important role here as well.
According to data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS), in 2025 the average area of a single‑family house was 126.1 square meters, a decrease of 4 m² compared to 2024, and also 5 m² when considering 2023 investments. According to GUS, over seven years the average area of a single‑family house has decreased by 10 m².
Not only houses are shrinking, but also apartments in blocks. Price is also a major factor. Residential units are getting more expensive, and consequently Poles can afford smaller apartments. According to GUS data, in 2025 the average area of an apartment built in our country was 51.4 m². Compared to 2018, a period 7 years ago, the decrease was 1.6 m².
Apartment prices, especially in large cities, are so high that the same amount that an investor can spend on a block apartment can be spent on a single‑family house outside the city. This also leads many people to move outside the city limits to fulfill their dream of a home. These houses are often not much larger than block apartments, but they provide much greater freedom due to the lack of neighbors behind the wall and offer more space thanks to the plot they sit on.
“If we sold an apartment in Kraków and wanted to buy a house outside the city, we can do it. Not only on the secondary market but even on the developer market. Currently the minimum price of a house on the primary market in the Kraków area, specifically in the counties of Kraków and Wieliczka, is about 800,000 PLN. This shows that such a transaction is possible. Statistically, we would need about 50,000 PLN, but it is known that an apartment can sometimes be sold for more than the assumed 750,000 PLN. Then the amount obtained from selling the block apartment could be enough to buy a new house, including one directly from a developer” - said Piotr Krochmal, analyst and real‑estate market advisor at the Institute for Market Analysis of Real Estate, in an interview with FXMAG.
See also: House at the price of an apartment! Expert: “It is possible, but it depends on location”
