Hi r/Poland,

I am a foreigner living in Warsaw for 1 month. I moved into a new apartment a couple of days ago.

The heater in the apartment cannot be adjusted (increased or decreased). The owner says that it is regulated centrally by the building’s thermostat. He also said that this is how it works in Poland.

Am I being scammed, or is this true? I feel rather cold inside, and the owner has said nothing can be done. I mean, I am going to pay the utility bill and yet, I cannot adjust the heater in my own home? It seems strange.

Also, the place in Warsaw where I lived before this, had a heater where you could adjust the temperature.

I already paid them the deposit, and additionally, a month’s rent to the agency.

I would really appreciate it if you guys would let me know your opinion on this. Thanks in advance.

Edit:

Heater dial and pipe picture – https://imgur.com/a/VSRlCwQ

Question:

I already paid the agency commission and security deposit. I signed the rental agreement as well. It has been less than 3 days since I have been living here. If I move out immediately, do I have the right to get my money back (agency commission + security deposit)?

12 comments

  2. Hey, hope you’re doing better. Could you get me in touch with a foreigner preferably south asian who’s studying in WUT? I’m planning to move to Warsaw for my study and I want to get some personal opinions from studying

  3. I do believe that it is not the rule. I live here for more or less 1 year moved to 2 different apartments visited a nice amount before renting and never heard of such.

    But I recognize that I have an extremely small experience compared with someone that has lived here all his life.

    Edit for clarity

  6. Lived in Warsaw for 12 years and never seen something like that.
    The heating could be turned on or off centrally, due to a season, but you should have possibility to adjust the “power” (including shutting off) during the heating season.

  7. Had mostly similar problem as you. Rented a flat. There was a dual system with thermostats and handles on the heaters. But changing the temperature on the thermostat or handles didn’t help. Then I checked the pipe system of the flat. In my case it was outside of the flat. And my heat pipe circle was closed on the output. Opened it and it helped. Maybe you have the same problem

  8. You are being scammed. When winter season ends they will turn off heat in whole building and then you can regulate it. But not when it’s heat season as we call it – you can regulate it as you wish. So question is – do you pay for bills like water, electricity and heat separetly or everything is included in rent?

  9. I think this thread needs more detailed answer. Every heater should have a 5 point valve on the side of it. You can regulate from 0 to 5, where 5 is the highest. However, the building administration regulates how much heat they allow to go into the building heating system. Since we have real cost of the heating problem at the moment, I bet the temperature was lowered to save on cost. Measure temperature in the apartment and if it’s consistently below 20C (with no windows opened), contact the administration, cos maybe your pipes are full of air and don’t distribute heat properly. Numbers to administracja are usually available on the information board at the entrance to the building.

  10. you probably miss understood owner…

    1. each heater has a radiator with numbers from 0 to 5 where 5 is fully opened and then hot water should come to heater..
    2. if heater hasnt thermostat then its fully opened
    3. each building has kind of heating exchanger which controlling temperature in heating pipes provided to apartments, temperature of water inside of pipes depends on temperature outside.. if its colder outside then the heater will be warmer
    4. if temperature outside is +15 for more than week then the main controller will disable heating in whole building
    5. you are paying for usage, so keep on mind if you will have all heaters on 5 then expect extra bill to pay, normal temp. inside should be 21-22

    also make sure the windows has turned into winter mode to keep warm air inside.

    im renting two flats to families from ukraine and belarus, both had the same questions 🙂

    a guy from ukraine said that they havent thermostats over there and temperature in heaters is always the same whole winter – is that true?

  11. I had similar problem in the flat I was renting. I could adjust the temperature but only slightly and could never turn it off. It was only one radiator in the house like that, landlord said that it was required to have one like that. However he contacted developer and made them come and change some part to make it work properly.

  12. tell me two things, ale you cold in a t-shirt or in something warmer and where are you from? 😉

    Easiest would be check what is the temperature inside. If it is 19-20C it is normal, if below 19C you can start to complain 😉

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