REPORT Good living. What Poles expect from their home?

"Good living. What Poles expect from home?" is a source of knowledge about good-quality housing developed by experts from the ThinkCo. Strategic partners - IKEA and Spravia. Research partner - Otodom.

The publication presents the issue of quality housing in a wide spectrum - from the analysis of data on the Polish and European market and the study of the housing model at various historical times, through changes in our attitude to the home and its surroundings, to contemporary trends in technology and ecology.

Polish housing market

• We build the most dwellings in Europe annually. Last year, 235,000 housing units were commissioned, which is the highest result since 1979. At the same time, our expectations are evolving and striving to meet Western standards - when asked about the dream house, the respondents did not mention the size, but pay attention to the functionality of the apartment. The number of rooms, their layout and the ability to make changes over time are important – Tomasz Bojęć, partner at ThinkCo.
• The housing stock in Poland includes approx. 15.3 million dwellings, of which almost 235,000 were commissioned in 2021. This is the highest annual result since 1979. Poland is characterized by a dynamic increase in the number of housing units - in 2020, for every 1,000 inhabitants, an average of 5.8 dwellings was delivered. This is the highest score in Europe.
• Over 70% of apartments in multi-family buildings in Poland were completed in 2021 in provincial cities and adjacent poviats - although they account for only 36% of the Polish population. Moreover, 50% of new apartments in multi-family buildings are located in the agglomerations of Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań and the Tri-City alone. The average size of a dwelling in 2020 in Poland was 75 sq m2, while in cities it was 10 meters smaller. Average space is overstated by large single-family houses. In fact, the average usable floor space of new apartments in multi-family buildings has been decreasing for over a dozen years. In 2021, it amounted to 52.6 sq m.2, with an average of 2.6 rooms per apartment. The average size of a new apartment in the city decreased by 16.2 sq m.2 between 2008 and 2019.
• The average number of rooms per person in Poland is 1.2, which is the second lowest result in the European Union. 36.9% of Poles live in overcrowded flats, which is a result much higher than the EU average (17.5%).

In and around the home

• Contemporary architecture restored the tradition of buildings adjacent to the street, which, together with the spread of multi-functionality of housing estates and calming down the road traffic, increased the sense of happiness - which is declared today by 60% of inhabitants of Polish cities. The functional and spatial organization of the city of this type builds a sense of security and gives us more time, which we do not waste traveling around the city by car in search of basic services.
• Over 57% of Poles feel happy in their city. 29% of respondents indicate that access to stores affects the sense of happiness. We also appreciate cities that are eco-friendly (21.7%), well-connected (23.9%), safe (21.7%) and offering numerous forms of entertainment and relaxation (21.1%).
• We perceive the cost of living negatively. For 36% of respondents, finances are the biggest obstacle to happiness. Other negative phenomena frequently cited were the state of the environment (23.9%) and access to health care (22.2%). We also complain about public transport and access to entertainment and cultural attractions.
• For 61% of Poles, a large grocery store is a key element of the infrastructure near their home, and a small local store is necessary for 41% of respondents. For over 30% of respondents, proximity to a pharmacy and a medical center is important. Large differences are noticeable between the responses of inhabitants of towns and cities of various sizes.
• 378 / 5 000 Wyniki tłumaczenia 53% of Poles appreciate green areas in their vicinity more than before the pandemic. The same percentage of respondents indicated contact with nature as an important motivation to move from their current home. Access to nature is especially important for people over 55 years of age. The research also confirms the importance of balconies and terraces - as substitutes for private gardens in the city.

How we perceive our homes

• Although the vast majority of Poles like their homes, only 6% do not feel the need to make any changes to them. We want our interiors to be functional and practical, especially since the average area of flats in cities has decreased by over 16 sq2.
• 79% of Poles like their home. We appreciate its location, space and coziness. Over 90% of respondents indicate that their apartment is a place where they can fully relax. However, only 6% of respondents would not want to make any changes to their home, which is twice as low as in Western countries.
• When arranging their home, Poles prefer practical solutions and functional interiors - this is indicated by as many as 87% of respondents. In addition, aesthetics and style (58%) as well as the quality of materials and equipment (57%) are indicated as important, and only then the price (40%).
• Arranging an apartment is one of the most popular ways to express yourself - this opinion is shared by 67% of respondents. The elements used to personalize the interior are plants (76%), photos (59%) as well as books and albums (53%). The most frequently indicated room in which the individual features of the resident can be noticed is the living room, perceived by the respondents as the heart of the house.
• As many as 75% of Poles declare that the pandemic forced them to reorganize their home so that they could work from home. For 50% of respondents, the importance of having a balcony, terrace or garden increased, and 41% began to pay more attention to the possibility of being outside the apartment.
• Only 58% of Poles believe that their home has a positive effect on their well-being. Almost 40% of respondents considered the possibility of spending time alone as one of the most important factors influencing the mental state. Spending time with your partner, eating and cooking also affects well-being at home.

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