How to rent out a flat safely? – a guide for owners

Renting out a flat always involves some risk. You never know what tenants you will get and whether they will pay rent on time. Fortunately, there are a few key rules worth following before we hand over the premises to strangers. Here are our tips, thanks to which the landlord will be able to sleep soundly.

Sign an agreement

A lease agreement is protection for both the owner and the tenant. By concluding it verbally we expose ourselves to numerous inconveniences. It will be harder to enforce anything against a problematic tenant, and any damage resulting from entrusting the flat to a stranger will most likely fall on you. Besides, an agreement allows you to settle all aspects of payments and the length of the tenancy, which makes the later relationship between the two parties much easier. Remember, too, that the more detailed the document, the better for you. It is also worth going through it with the tenant before signing, to dispel any doubts.

Occasional lease

An occasional lease (najem okazjonalny) is a form of agreement whose aim is to look after the owner's interests. This document makes it much easier to get rid of a tenant who does not pay rent. This is because the tenant must indicate in it a place to which they will move if they do not fulfil the agreement. Eviction is also carried out not by a court but on the basis of bailiff enforcement.

The drawback of an occasional lease is the need for both parties to sign the agreement before a notary, as well as the need to report the rental income to the tax office.

Pay your taxes

For your own good and security, it is worth paying tax on rental income. We will spare ourselves the stress of a possible inspection. And in the event of conflicts with the tenant, we will not give them the chance to blackmail us with the threat of triggering such an inspection.

Vet your tenants

When making a property available to third parties, always check who is going to live in it. It is worth meeting each tenant in person and checking their identity. You never know, after all, when you will come across a fraudster. Sign the agreement with all the tenants, not just one; this will give you greater security for the future.

Handover protocol

This is a very useful document that many owners forget about, and thanks to it you can spare yourself many disputes. It is important, however, to record in it not only the meter readings but also the condition of each room on the day the key is handed to the tenant. On the basis of this document it will be possible to determine any deductions from the deposit resulting from damage arising in the premises while the tenant was using them.

Respond to reported problems

If a tenant reports a defect, it is always worth checking it, even if it is not your fault. A dripping tap can end in a water leak into the neighbour's flat, and then it is you who will be responsible for covering the repair costs.

Account for the deposit

The deposit is a refundable sum and, provided that no losses it could cover have arisen during the tenancy, the owner is obliged to return it to the tenant in full within 30 days of the date