Thursday, 16 July 2026
A new independent research organisation focused on Poland’s residential rental sector has been launched with the aim of improving market transparency, developing industry standards and providing regular market data for landlords, tenants and property professionals.
The Instytut Rynku Najmu (IRN) has been established as an independent think tank dedicated to research, analysis and education relating to Poland’s residential rental market. The organisation says it intends to address what it describes as a lack of consistent market data, common standards and reliable analytical tools for the sector.
The launch coincides with the publication of IRN’s first quarterly rental market sentiment survey, which highlights differing perceptions of current market conditions between industry experts and residential landlords. According to the survey, 27% of market experts believe conditions in the rental market have improved, compared with 13% of landlords.
The survey also identified the main challenges facing the sector. Nearly 78% of industry experts cited inadequate protection for landlords as the market’s biggest obstacle, while more than 83% said tenants are primarily affected by high rental and housing costs. The proportion of experts identifying unclear and unstable regulations as a major barrier doubled over the previous quarter, rising from 23% to more than 46%.
According to Arkadiusz Derkacz, co-founder and chief economist of IRN, the Polish rental market requires more reliable data and consistent standards to support evidence-based policymaking and market development. He said the institute was created to provide research, methodology and market indicators rather than opinion-based assessments.
IRN’s flagship project is a quarterly survey of Poland’s residential rental market based on a methodology modelled on business sentiment surveys conducted by Statistics Poland (GUS). The survey combines the perspectives of market professionals and private landlords to monitor current conditions and expectations for the coming quarter. Alongside the survey, the institute plans to publish market reports, regulatory analysis, forecasts and guidance on rental agreements and industry best practices.
The institute’s first survey for the second quarter of 2026 found a generally positive but moderate market outlook. The overall rental market sentiment indicator reached 17.27 points among experts and 1.80 points among landlords, suggesting improving conditions, although landlords remained considerably more cautious. Experts reported a continued improvement in overall market conditions, while landlords assessed current conditions less positively despite stronger expectations for rental demand and income.
The research also points to growing concerns about tenants’ financial position. The proportion of experts reporting a deterioration in tenants’ financial situation increased from 17% to almost 35% over the quarter, while more than 47% identified uncertainty over household incomes and living costs as an increasing challenge. Initial rental costs, including deposits and agency fees, were cited by more than 67% of respondents as a significant barrier for tenants.
IRN said it plans to publish further research on rental market regulation later this year, together with policy recommendations based on its survey findings. The institute’s founder is simpl.rent, a technology platform specialising in residential rental services.
