A rent reduction is granted upon the application of the interested person and applies to tenants of residential premises whose tenancy agreements have been concluded for an indefinite period. The reduction applies only to rent and does not cover charges independent of the owner, i.e. charges for supplying the premises with electricity, gas and water, or for the collection of sewage, waste and liquid waste.
The amount of the reduction depends on the income earned by the tenant’s household during the 3 months preceding the date of submitting the application. When granting a rent reduction, the amount of the lowest pension applicable on the date of submitting the application, announced by the President of ZUS in the Official Journal “Monitor Polski”, is taken into account.
The reduction amounts to 20 to 60% of the currently applicable rent and also depends on the technical facilities of the premises (e.g. whether the dwelling is equipped with a bathroom, toilet, central heating, hot water, etc.).
Who is entitled to a reduction:
- Tenants whose average monthly income per household member during the 3 months preceding the date of submitting the application does not exceed:
- in a one-person household, 200% of the lowest pension
- in a multi-person household, 150% of the lowest pension
NOTE! The rate of the lowest pension changes on 1 March each year
- Tenants who:
- have a valid tenancy agreement for the premises concluded for an indefinite period
- comply with the agreed debt repayment terms if they have arrears.
The application form, together with the attachments, for a rent reduction due to income can be collected directly at the headquarters of the Miejski Zakład Gospodarki Mieszkaniowej in Bolesławiec (at 23 Dolne Młyny Street, room 13) or downloaded from the website: www.mzgm.boleslawiec.pl.
A reduction of rent charged due to low income does not exclude the possibility of applying for a housing allowance. The reduction of the rent charged is granted for 12 months, with the possibility of extending it for subsequent periods if the tenant’s financial situation justifies this.
In the first year of granting the reduction, the usable-floor-area criterion is not taken into account. In subsequent years, a rent reduction is available when the actual usable area of the occupied premises is no greater than:
- 35.0 m² – for 1 person
- 40.0 m² – for 2 people
- 45.0 m² – for 3 people
- 55.0 m² – for 4 people
- 65.0 m² – for 5 people
- 70.0 m² – for 6 people; if more people live in the residential premises, the area of the premises is increased by 5 m² for each additional person.
The area referred to above is increased by 15 m² if a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair, or a person with a disability whose condition requires them to live in a separate room, lives in the residential premises. The requirement to live in a separate room is determined by district disability assessment teams.
A mutual exchange for premises whose area meets the standards is possible, thereby reducing the rent charged and acquiring entitlement to a reduction of the rent charged due to low income. A rent reduction is not available to tenants of social housing premises.
Detailed information about reductions of the rent charged can be obtained by calling: 75 644 09 07.
(commissioned information: UM Bolesławiec)