Buying a house in Poland
You find a house online that looks good, but you live in another country. We look for you: at the house, at the seller and at the paperwork.
Tim van Corven lives in Poland, speaks English and can be at the property within a few days.
Already have a house in mind? Send us the link to the listing and we will tell you what stands out and what you should ask. That costs nothing.
Why buying from a distance goes wrong
The rules are rarely the hardest part. It goes wrong on the things you cannot see from home.
You see photos, not a house
Damp, foundations, roof and services rarely make it into the photos. What a listing calls “to renovate” can mean a new roof or just a lick of paint.
You don’t know the other party
Who is selling, and why? A story that would sound odd at home sounds just as odd in Polish. You just can’t hear it.
You can’t read the paperwork
The Polish land and mortgage register, the księga wieczysta, is public and online. It lists mortgages, easements and seizures, in Polish and in legal jargon.
The notary works differently
In Poland a property can only change hands by notarial deed. The notary is impartial and does not check whether your side of the deal is a sensible one.
What we do for you
Viewing the house
We go there ourselves and photograph what an agent leaves out. For a technical survey a building engineer comes along.
Checking the seller and the paperwork
Who owns the property according to the land register, does that match the person you are dealing with, and is anything registered against it that you don’t want to take on.
Negotiating, and the notary
We negotiate with the seller or their agent on your behalf. At the notary we go through the deed with you and translate what it says before you sign.
Searching beyond the listings
Much of what sells in Poland never appears online. You find it by talking to people locally, not by trawling portals.
Besides buying, we also help with renting, with selling a house and with moving to Poland. After the purchase there is property management in Poland, for a house you don’t live in yourself.
Our network
For anything outside our own work, we use professionals we know:
- Notary
- Lawyer
- Tax adviser
- Estate agent
- Building engineer
- Structural engineer, architect, geologist and land surveyor
- Builder who hands over homes ready to move into
- Maker of saunas, tiny houses and wooden holiday homes
- Removal company
How it works
- You tell us your situation. What you want (to buy, rent, sell or move), in which region, and how far along you are. By email or WhatsApp, and that costs nothing.
- You or us. You can search yourself, on the Polish property portals where part of the market is listed. Or we go out with your wishes, beyond the listings too, and come back with a shortlist.
- We agree what is needed. One viewing, a full check, or help all the way to the deed. You know the cost in advance.
- We go there. You get a report with photos, findings and what we would do in your place.
What you need to know about buying in Poland
General outline. There are exceptions, for example for people who have lived in Poland for some years. Farmland and forest have extra rules that apply to every buyer, Polish buyers included. Have your own case checked before you sign anything.
Do you need a permit?
Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland don’t. Other nationalities generally need a permit from the Polish Ministry of the Interior for land or a house with land; a flat that is a separate unit is generally exempt. Who needs what.
Farmland is a separate matter
Agricultural land falls under the Polish agricultural land act, which applies to Polish buyers as well. From 0.3 hectares the state agency KOWR has a right of first refusal and the purchase goes through two deeds; from 1 hectare you need farmer status or consent. A cottage with a meadow behind it can easily fall under this. What applies by area.
What does it really cost?
On top of the price you pay transfer tax, the notary, the land register and translation. We work out what that comes to in your case beforehand; it depends on the type of property and on the seller.
Living there, or just owning?
A holiday home, letting it out or actually moving are three different routes, with different consequences for tax and registration.
Outline based on the Polish statutes: the act on the acquisition of property by foreigners, the agricultural land act (consolidated text July 2026, via isap.sejm.gov.pl), the forest act (May 2026, via api.sejm.gov.pl) and figures from the state agency KOWR. The land rules were last checked in August 2026. General information, not legal advice. The exceptions are on permits and land rules.
Read more
- Buying a house in Poland as a foreigner: step by step
Buying a house in Poland as a foreigner: the order from preliminary contract to deed, what the notary and the 2% transfer tax cost, and what you can check yourself. - Where Polish houses are for sale, and what the portals don’t tell you
Houses in Poland are listed on Otodom, OLX, Morizon, Gratka and Nieruchomosci-online. Which site shows what, which Polish search words work and why you see the same house twice. - Permits and land rules: when a purchase in Poland falls through
Whether you need a permit in Poland depends on your nationality. A purchase can also fall through on farmland and forest rules. The thresholds and first refusal rights in outline. - How much does a house cost in Poland?
What does a house in Poland cost? The price per square metre, the extra costs at purchase, renovating an old house and what you pay every year. - Buying a holiday home or second home in Poland
Can a foreigner buy a second home in Poland, how is it taxed, and where does it go wrong with a house that stands empty for months? - Property management in Poland: someone on the spot while you are away
A house in Poland and you abroad: who keeps an eye on it? What property management involves, what you agree beforehand and what Polish law asks of a manager.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to buy a house in Poland as a foreigner?
That depends on your nationality. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland do not need a permit from the Polish Ministry of the Interior. Other nationalities, UK and US citizens included, generally need one to buy land or a house with land, while a flat that is a separate unit is generally exempt. Check your own case with the notary before you sign anything; we can help you ask.
Do I have to come to Poland myself?
Not for the viewing, we do that. For the notarial deed you either attend in person or give someone a power of attorney. We talk through beforehand which suits your situation.
Do you speak English?
Yes. We work with you in English. Contact with the seller, the agent and the notary is in Polish.
Are you estate agents?
No. We have no properties of our own and earn nothing from the other side. We work for you, whether you are buying, renting or selling, and that is the difference.
Can you also help with renting and moving to Poland?
Yes. We look for a home to rent or buy, arrange the move with a removal company we know, and sort out locally what needs to be ready when you arrive. That includes students looking for a room or a flat.
Can you help if I already have a house in mind?
Yes, that is the question we get most. Send the link to the listing and we will tell you what stands out and what you should ask.
A house in mind, or still looking around?
Send the link to the listing or describe what you are looking for. You will get an answer within two working days from someone who knows the area.
Or email us directly at info@huiskopeninpolen.nl.