Thirteen million Poles live in conditions below the European average

Poland has one of the lowest housing saturation rates in the European Union. It also has one of the highest levels of overcrowding. This means that despite a record number of new housing projects being completed, the country still faces a housing shortage. According to Maciej Gołębiewski, a real estate investment expert and founder of dobregonajmu.pl, rental housing must become a key way of meeting housing needs in the coming years.

In Poland, there are only about 420 housing units per 1,000 residents—significantly fewer than the EU average of 517. The gap widens even more when comparing with Western Europe: in France, there are about 565, and in Spain, 570 dwellings per 1,000 residents. Similar disparities can be seen in living space per person: 31 square meters in Poland, compared to around 40 square meters across the EU.

“These figures show that Poland simply lacks enough housing. Many families share living space that would long ago have been considered inadequate in Western Europe,” says Maciej Gołębiewski, real estate investment expert and founder of dobregonajmu.pl.

“The reason is simple: owning a home in Poland is out of reach for many people. Purchase prices are high for the average person, and mortgages are increasingly difficult to obtain. Renting could be the solution—but unfortunately, that alternative barely exists, as the rental market remains underdeveloped,” he adds.

The Rental Market Catching Up with Western Europe

Currently, only about 12% of Polish households rent their homes. This is very low compared to the EU average of around 30%, and even more so compared to Germany or France, where over 40% of households rent. The Polish rental market is also highly fragmented—dominated by private owners who rent out one or two apartments on their own terms. Institutional renting—transparent, professional, and accessible—is still in its infancy.

“A large share of Poles are stuck in a trap. They can’t afford to buy, and the rental market offers them no real alternatives. As a result, more than 13 million people live in overcrowded conditions. In Western Europe, overcrowding affects only a few percent of the population. This makes a huge difference in everyday life—in quality of living, family comfort, and even career opportunities,” emphasizes Gołębiewski.

A Better Tomorrow?

“If anything is to change, we need not only to build more housing, but also to develop a genuine rental market—affordable, institutional, and based on clear rules. This isn’t just an issue for investors; it’s a social issue. Without stable and accessible housing, there can be no real sense of security, development, or normal life. Poland is still catching up with the West, and rental housing must become a serious alternative—just as it has elsewhere in Europe,” he concludes.

About the Expert

Maciej Gołębiewski is a rental market practitioner, real estate investment expert, and founder of dobregonajmu.pl. He helps property owners maximize passive rental income by offering comprehensive support—from selecting and purchasing properties to renovation, adaptation, and management of rentals or subleases.

He began investing in 2016 with subletting and built a portfolio of 250 rental rooms in Warsaw within 18 months. To date, he has completed over 110 apartment renovations, managed more than 10,257 tenants, and generated rental income exceeding PLN 72 million. He currently manages 308 apartments worth over PLN 350 million in total.

Translated from Polish.