For individuals · Law City Katowice

Real estate and construction — legal help in Katowice

Katowice, Fabryka Porcelany and the surrounding area · meet in person or online · plain language, no legal jargon

Buying a flat from a developer, or in a dispute with a renovation contractor? We review contracts and defects, keep track of deadlines, and help you pursue repairs, a price reduction, or compensation.

What kind of help is available for property and construction work?

We help when you're buying a flat or house from a developer and something goes wrong: the unit has defects, the handover is delayed, or the contract raises questions. We review the developer agreement and the information prospectus, check the terms, and explain in plain language what to look out for at handover and how to record defects in the handover report. We also support you in disputes with a contractor or renovation crew when work has been done badly or late. We explain when you can demand a repair, a price or fee reduction, contractual penalties or compensation, and we prepare letters to the other party. Where needed, we represent you in negotiations and in court. We don't promise the outcome up front — once we've reviewed the documents, we give you an honest account of the options we see, along with the chances, risks and costs.

Specifically, how we help

Buying a flat or house from a developer
Defects in the unit and the handover report
Delays in handing over the unit
Statutory warranty (rękojmia) for property defects
Disputes with a contractor or renovation crew
Contractual penalties and compensation

Frequently asked questions

I'm collecting my flat from the developer — what should I watch for, and what should go in the handover report?

It's worth carrying out the handover carefully, ideally with someone who knows construction, and recording every defect you notice in the handover report. Under the Polish Developer Act (of 20 May 2021, in force since 1 July 2022), the developer generally has 30 days from signing the report to fix the defects, and must say beforehand whether it accepts them. If you miss something at handover, you don't automatically lose all your rights — defects can also be reported later. We review your report and contract and explain which steps make sense in your situation.

The developer is late handing over the flat — what can I do?

First, we check the developer agreement for the handover deadline and the clauses on contractual penalties and withdrawal from the contract. Depending on the contract terms and how long the delay is, it may be possible to charge a contractual penalty, seek compensation, or in some cases withdraw from the contract. We prepare a formal demand to the developer and keep track of deadlines. We don't promise the outcome up front — we give you a legal assessment based on your documents.

What's the difference between reporting a defect to the developer and the statutory warranty for property defects?

Defects found at handover and shortly after are reported under the defect-notification procedure set out in the Polish Developer Act and the contract. Separately, the developer or seller is also liable for physical defects in the property under the statutory warranty (rękojmia) in the Polish Civil Code — as a rule, for five years from when the property was handed over. The statutory warranty can give you the right to demand a repair, a price reduction, or, for a significant defect, even to withdraw from the contract. Once we've reviewed the documents, we explain which basis is worth relying on in your case and which deadlines to watch.

The renovation crew did poor work or didn't finish — what are my rights?

It depends on the contract and the type of work. Under a contract for specific work or a construction works contract (Polish Civil Code), you can usually demand that faulty work be corrected, and if the contractor doesn't do this, demand a reduced fee, or, for a significant defect, withdraw from the contract; it may also be possible to claim a contractual penalty, if the contract provides for one, or compensation. It's worth keeping the contract, correspondence and photos. We review the documents and explain in plain language which steps make sense in your situation, and prepare the letters you need.