End of shield heat! Cooperatives are already preparing rent increases of up to 30 percent.

The block residents must prepare for the financial shock. End of government solidarity shield means an inevitable and crucial increase in heating costs, which will straight translate into rents. Although the government has frozen energy prices, this is the advance on account of system heat, which is the lion's share of the fee in cooperatives, will go up. Experts inform that a fewer twelve percent increase is only the beginning, and the final scale of growth will depend on the prices of natural materials and the severity of the coming winter.

For millions of Poles surviving in multi-family buildings this means the request to revise their home budgets. The problem is all the more serious, as unlike the owners of single-family homes, block residents are completely dependent on urban heating plants and have no viable alternatives. The upcoming heating period will be the first in a long time to feel the full marketplace heating costs.

The solidarity shield stopped working. What does this mean in practice?

The mechanics of heat price subsidies, known as the solidarity shield, has long cushioned drastic increases in the energy market. However, according to Money.pl analysts, June 30, 2025 This protective period is over. The removal of the shield means that the prices of strategy heat, i.e. heating supplied from urban heat and heat and power plants, request to be cured and adapted to current production costs.

System heat is the most popular solution in Polish multi-family construction. It provides comfort and is much more ecological than individual kilns, helping to reduce smog in cities. Unfortunately, this convenience now has its price. The residents of the blocks are trapped – they cannot install their own boiler, and another solutions, specified as heat pumps, prove even more costly in practice in operation due to rising power prices and advanced installation costs.

Raises are inevitable. How much will the bills increase?

Housing cooperatives across Poland are already preparing residents for inevitable increases. A spokesperson for Poznań's “Young Settlement”, quoted by Money.pl, estimates that without a shield Average heating and hot water charges can increase by up to 30 percent. In any cases, the advance payments to date may only cover half of the real costs, which will consequence not only in higher current charges, but besides in the request to settle the underpayments from the erstwhile settlement period.

Concrete examples are already appearing. Patrick Słowik from Virtual Poland reported on platform X that his cooperative announced 24% increase in heat. In practice this means that the monthly advance of PLN 300 will increase by PLN 72, up to PLN 372. On a yearly basis it is an additional expenditure of PLN 864. In another Poznań cooperative, the situation is even more dramatic – in the years 2022-2025 the heating company raised tariffs as many as 8 times, which caused actual heat supply costs have increased by more than 108%.

The residents of blocks without alternatives? Hope in mild Winter

The biggest problem in the block residents is the full deficiency of viable alternatives. Unlike the owners of single-family homes who can invest in photovoltaics, heat pumps or alter heating sources, housing tenants are made to cooperative decisions and tariffs imposed by local heat plants. Advertised as an ecological solution of air-to-air heat pumps under block conditions are frequently unprofitable due to advanced installation costs and rising electricity prices.

In this situation the only hope remains a mild winter. The lower the temperatures and the shorter the heating season, the smaller the financial blow to home budgets. However, experts inform that rising heat costs is only 1 component of the wider trend. It besides provides electricity needed to illuminate common parts, power elevators or ventilation systems, which will besides translate into further rent increases.

How to prepare for higher bills? 5 key steps

Passivity is not the solution. To minimize the shock of increases, it is worth taking concrete action now. Housing cooperatives urge a fewer simple rules that can aid reduce costs and better prepare for the upcoming changes.

• Check your home budget: Examine monthly expenses carefully and estimation the amount you will be able to pay for higher fees. Remember, the increase can be from tens to even a fewer 100 zlotys a month.
• Monitor cooperative messages: Carefully read all notices and information displayed on stairways or published online. Cooperatives shall inform in advance of the planned changes in the advance and settlement dates.
• Save your energy now: Enter habits that reduce heat consumption. Keep the flat constant, optimal temperature (approx. 20-21°C), do not overheat the rooms and wind briefly but intensely. Each step little is simply a savings of 6-8% of heating costs.
• Check billing accuracy: After the end of the heating season, carefully check the bill. Compare them with the heat dividers in your apartment. If you have any doubts, study them to the board of directors immediately.
• Consider additional sources of income: If the projected increases are a serious burden on your budget, it is worth considering the anticipation of expanding gross or reducing another little crucial expenditure.