How far should I raise rent for a reliable Warsaw studio tenant?

[kian_roofs]

I have a Warsaw studio renting for about PLN 15,160, while comparable asking rents appear to be near PLN 18,930. The tenant pays reliably and takes good care of the property, so chasing the full difference could be false economy once vacancy, refurbishment and reletting are considered.

Would you offer a smaller increase to retain them, and how would you present it fairly? I also need to account for Polish notice requirements, the tenancy terms and deposit handling rather than treating the advertised figure as automatically achievable.

 

[AdaChase]

My preference would be to retain the reliable tenant, but only if the present rent has not drifted so far behind that future reviews become difficult. The PLN 18,930 comparison is tempting, although an advertised figure does not show how quickly a similar studio actually finds an occupant.

When was the rent last reviewed, and how closely do those listings match the studio in size, furnishing, condition and included charges? Those details could change the answer. Once the agreement and applicable notice requirements are checked, I would compare a moderate increase with the income lost during even a short vacancy, plus preparation and reletting costs, before proposing a figure in writing.

 

[OrenBirch]

How close are the comparisons in size, condition, furnishing, exact area and what is included in the rent? Also, when was this tenant’s last increase? Without those details, the PLN 3,770 gap may look more meaningful than it is.

 

[bea_rates]

I partly disagree with automatically rewarding retention through a heavily discounted rent. If the tenancy has fallen behind over several years, postponing the issue can make the next review harder for both sides.

First confirm what the agreement permits and verify the current Polish notice and deposit rules with someone familiar with Warsaw tenancies. Then compare genuinely similar occupied costs, note the tenant’s payment and maintenance history, and propose a reasoned figure below or up to the supported market level. A calm written explanation is better than presenting PLN 18,930 as an ultimatum.