Radomir Wit opened the discussion by referencing Article 75 of the Polish Constitution, which obligates public authorities to implement policies that meet citizens’ housing needs. He asked the panelists if they believed the authorities were fulfilling this mandate.
Jan Mencwel argued that public authorities were not doing enough to address housing needs. He pointed out that in Poland, private ownership dominates the housing market, which he deemed suboptimal. Referring to statistics, he noted that only 10% of Warsaw’s housing is allocated for affordable rent, compared to 40% in Paris and over 60% in Vienna. Zbigniew Gościcki agreed, emphasizing that 98% of new housing in Poland is built by private developers, making it challenging for young people to afford homes. He called for greater government intervention in the housing market, proposing alternatives such as affordable rental housing for young people.
Karolina Pisarek shared her personal experience, highlighting that despite her young age, she managed to purchase two apartments and sell one for a profit. She mentioned buying her first apartment on a mortgage at 21, which she fully repaid within a few years. However, she decided to hold off selling her second apartment due to uncertainties surrounding the “0% Credit” program. Jan Mencwel criticized the program, suggesting it could inflate housing prices and mainly benefit developers. Marek Obuchowicz countered, arguing that subsidies could benefit both young buyers and developers. Mariusz Dymowski, however, expressed concerns that the program might do more harm than good, advocating instead for initiatives addressing young people’s actual housing needs.
Mencwel also noted that social housing, despite its negative perception, can often be innovative, citing the TBS Rybnik project as an example. Karolina Pisarek remarked on Poland’s cultural attachment to homeownership and criticized taking on mortgages, suggesting avoiding financial obligations where possible. Marek Obuchowicz highlighted a shortage of over 2 million homes in Poland and described overcrowding as one of the country’s most severe housing issues in Europe. He suggested rental housing as a flexible alternative to ownership. Zbigniew Gościcki warned against long-term mortgages, citing their potential risks.
Concluding the discussion, Mariusz Dymowski remarked on the deep-rooted preference for homeownership among Poles, predicting little change in this mindset in the near future. Jan Mencwel urged public authorities to build more dormitories, which could ease pressure on the private housing market and help reduce prices. Questions from the audience centered on issues such as amendments to tenant protection laws, the problem of vacant properties, and the reasons behind high housing costs.
