Polish Property Glossary for Foreign Buyers

The public court register describing a property's legal status. It can show the property, owner or right-holder, registered rights and claims, and mortgages. Not every cooperative ownership right has a separate KW, so “no KW number” requires explanation rather than an automatic conclusion.

The identifier used to open a specific register in the official EKW browser. It combines the court code, register number and control digit. An address alone is not the input used by the public browser.

The register is organised into four main sections: I describes the property and rights connected with ownership, II identifies the owner or entitled person, III records other rights, claims and restrictions, and IV records mortgages.

A residential unit constitutes a separate immovable property, normally with its own land register and a connected share in the common property. The apartment and that share should be analysed as one legal package.

A transferable, inheritable limited property right connected with a housing cooperative. It is not the same as separate ownership of the apartment, even though it can be sold and may be mortgaged.

A long-term right to use publicly owned land, historically common in Polish urban property structures. Much residential land was transformed into ownership under separate legislation, but older registers, mixed-use schemes and non-residential interests can still require careful analysis.

Ownership held by more than one person, usually in fractional shares or—between spouses under the relevant regime—jointly without fixed shares. Decisions, sale signatures and financing must match the actual form of co-ownership.

Parts of the land and building that do not serve only one unit. Owners participate through shares linked to their apartments, and costs or resolutions concerning the common property can materially affect an investor.

The community formed by owners of separate units in a building. It manages the common property, adopts resolutions and collects charges, often through an appointed manager.

The public geodetic register containing information about plots, buildings and premises. It supports identification and planning checks but does not replace the land register as the title-review tool.

Official documents presenting descriptive cadastral data and a mapped extract for the relevant land. They may be required for certain notarial, court or administrative steps.

A right burdening one property for the benefit of another property or person—for example access, passage, utilities or personal occupation. Its scope depends on the legal instrument and wording.

A legally relevant claim that may appear in Section III—for example a buyer's claim arising from an agreement or another right affecting disposition. Its effect depends on the basis, priority and procedural status.

A security right registered against real estate or an eligible right, usually in favour of a bank. A seller's mortgage does not automatically prevent a purchase, but payoff, bank consent and deletion mechanics must be coordinated.

A marker that an application, appeal or other proceeding capable of changing the register has been filed. It warns that the displayed entries may not be the final current legal picture.

An agreement intended to hold a selected property for a defined period while specified next steps occur. In developer transactions it is regulated by the Developer Act; in resale transactions the wording and consequences require close contractual review.

A payment connected with a reservation agreement. Under the statutory developer-market regime the fee and refund rules are regulated; outside that regime, the agreement's legal basis and wording are decisive.

A contract in which the parties commit to conclude the final sale on defined essential terms. Form matters: a notarial preliminary agreement can provide stronger enforcement options than an ordinary written agreement.

A payment with default consequences described in Article 394 of the Civil Code unless the contract or circumstances provide otherwise. If one party fails, the other may in qualifying circumstances retain it or demand twice the amount.

A payment on account of the price that normally does not carry the special double-return mechanism associated with zadatek. Refund and damages still depend on the contract and reason the transaction did not complete.

The formal instrument required for an agreement transferring ownership of Polish real estate. The notary records the parties' declarations, verifies formal requirements and normally submits associated land-register applications.

The legal act by which ownership passes to the buyer, normally within the notarial sale or transfer deed. Handover of keys, payment timing and the later register update are connected steps but not synonyms for the legal transfer itself.

The formal request for a court entry, deletion or change in the KW. A notarial transfer normally includes the relevant application, but the court's later entry remains a separate procedural step.

The document recording physical delivery of a resale property, typically including condition, keys, meter readings, equipment and comments. It should be distinguished from the statutory developer handover protocol.

A statutory notarial agreement under which the developer undertakes to build and ultimately transfer the specified residential property or right, while the buyer undertakes to pay under the agreed schedule.

A statutory information document covering the developer, project, land, financing, permits, surroundings, schedule and the offered unit, with required attachments. It becomes part of the contractual information set.

The statutory bank account used for buyer payments in covered developer transactions. Depending on its type, funds are released under the legal and project-stage mechanism rather than treated as an ordinary payment directly into the developer's operating account.

A statutory protection fund administered within the UFG system for covered developer-market buyer payments in defined failure scenarios. Coverage depends on whether the transaction falls within the statutory regime.

A market expression for the unfinished condition in which a developer delivers a unit. There is no single universal finish package behind the label; the contract, technical specification and drawings define what is included.

The inspection and statutory handover stage at which the buyer examines the completed unit and records identified defects in the protocol. It precedes or accompanies later ownership-transfer steps depending on the project sequence.

A non-conformity or defect in the delivered property; the Developer Act contains a specific procedure for defects identified at handover, including treatment of a material defect. Classification depends on facts and professional/legal assessment.

The seller's statutory liability framework for defects or non-conformity under the applicable Civil Code and consumer rules. The exact rights, exclusions, deadlines and relationship with developer legislation depend on buyer and transaction type.

Property acquired from a developer or other first seller in a transaction forming part of the new-build supply chain. The applicable documents, buyer protections, VAT treatment and handover sequence differ from resale.

A purchase from an existing owner rather than the standard new-build developer route. Title, occupiers, arrears, condition, alterations, mortgage payoff and seller authority become central transaction-specific checks.

A transaction tax that commonly applies at 2% to a typical resale purchase where the sale is not subject to VAT. A statutory first-home exemption and a separate 6% rule for certain bulk purchases mean the buyer's history and transaction structure matter.

In a standard developer sale, VAT is generally included in the stated gross price rather than added as PCC. The applicable rate can differ by the legal object and statutory conditions, particularly for ancillary components.

The notary's remuneration, agreed with the parties within legally prescribed maximum rates. It is separate from taxes, court fees, certified copies and other disbursements collected at the notarial stage.

A statutory fee for a court application, including relevant KW entries or deletions. It is commonly collected by the notary with completion amounts when the deed contains the application.

The statutory certificate describing a building's or unit's calculated energy characteristics. It must be provided in specified sale and rental situations, and delivery is recorded at the notarial sale stage.

A binding local planning act setting permitted land use and development parameters for covered land. It can materially affect future construction, density, roads, services and the surroundings of a purchase.

An administrative decision used for qualifying development where no local plan applies. It defines parameters for the proposed investment but does not itself create title to the land.

The administrative route confirming that a completed building can be lawfully used can involve an occupancy permit or a completion notification, depending on the project. The correct document must match the building and scope.

A permit under the Act on Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners that may be required depending on citizenship, buyer status and the legal object acquired. Broad exemptions apply to EEA and Swiss buyers, while the separate-residential-unit exemption can apply in other cases subject to statutory limits.

An authority allowing a representative to perform defined acts for the buyer. For a property transfer, form and scope must satisfy Polish requirements and the transaction; a broad everyday POA is not automatically suitable.

Authentication used so a public document can be relied on abroad. Apostille applies between Hague Convention states; another legalisation route may apply elsewhere, subject to treaties and the document type.

A translator authorised under Polish law to produce certified translations and perform sworn interpreting. Foreign documents used in the transaction may require sworn Polish translations, and a non-Polish-speaking party may need interpreting at the notarial appointment.

A legally independent residential unit meeting statutory conditions for separate ownership. This classification can matter to the title structure and to a foreign buyer's permit analysis.

A regulated residential lease structure for qualifying private landlords, using specified documents including the tenant's notarial submission to enforcement and an alternative-address framework. Statutory formalities and tax-office notification matter.

The recurring amount paid to the community, cooperative or manager for building costs, often including advances for selected utilities and a renovation fund. It is not the rent paid by a tenant to the owner.