In brief

• The government announces changes to Społeczne Inicjatywy Mieszkaniowe (Social Housing Initiatives).
• Tenants are to receive clear information on the possibility and conditions of buying their apartments.
• Residents report a growing number of irregularities and feel deceived by unclear promises of ownership transfer (uwłaszczenie).
• A new buyout model and regulations tidying up the operation of SIM companies are being developed.

Clear information for tenants

The government wants tenants of apartments in Społeczne Inicjatywy Mieszkaniowe to receive clear information on whether they can buy their premises. They should also know under what legal and financial conditions this would take place. (Rząd spróbuje uspokoić najemców w SIM/TBS – Prawo.pl)

Complaints about irregularities

SIM tenants increasingly report irregularities in the functioning of these companies. Some of them feel deceived by imprecise promises of ownership transfer (uwłaszczenie).

New buyout model and regulations

The government is preparing a new model for buying apartments in SIMs. (Rząd porządkuje SIM-y. Szykuje nowy model wykupu – biznes.interia.pl) At the same time, regulations are being drafted to bring order to the operation of these companies. (Społeczne Inicjatywy Mieszkaniowe czeka rewolucja. Rząd szykuje nowe przepisy – portalsamorzadowy.pl) Portal Samorządowy, which has also reported on the planned regulations, wrote about a considerable number of changes awaiting these companies.

Scope of planned changes

The changes are meant to ease tensions between tenants and companies in the construction-market segment, which has long been controversial.