He applied for a municipal flat. They offered him a “tiny room.” “A hamster has more space in its cage”

A Reader contacted us:

The MZGM offered me a municipal flat, which is some kind of misunderstanding. The total area is 12 m², while the living area is 9 m². On top of that, there is a tiled stove and no bathroom (only a toilet). A hamster generally has more space in its cage, and prison cells are larger (...).

He added:

When I saw the letter from the MZGM, I thought they had mixed up the square metres. The place with the sink is supposedly a kitchenette in this supposedly flat. There is no room for a wardrobe, and a desk is completely out of the question. And try lighting the stove and sleeping in that dump. There is nowhere to put a washing machine or a refrigerator.

He also noted: – Earlier, around October, they offered me 25 m² on Kubika Street, but I would have needed around PLN 50,000 in cash to renovate it and move in, so that was not particularly serious either.

We asked the Municipal Housing Management Authority in Bolesławiec about the matter. Justyna Foremna, deputy head of the MZGM:

The Act of 21 June 2001 on the protection of tenants’ rights, the municipal housing stock and amendments to the Civil Code regulates, among other things, the principles governing the municipal housing stock. This act obliges the municipality to adopt a resolution concerning the rules for renting premises forming part of the housing stock of the Municipality of Bolesławiec. The City of Bolesławiec has adopted such a resolution. Under the applicable regulations, the minimum area for a one-person household, where the premises consist exclusively of one room, is 6 m² of living space per person. Therefore, this flat meets the applicable area standard. It also has access to a toilet.

She also stressed: – This man was first offered a flat twice as large, and he rejected that offer.

And she explained:

The municipality has an old housing stock. There are premises where the toilet is outside the flat, for example in the corridor. These are flats in old buildings. Whenever it is possible to install a bathroom or toilet in such a flat, we try to carry out the renovation and install it. Unfortunately, for various reasons, this cannot be achieved in every flat.

She also added: – Everyone has the right to decline an offer that has been presented.