After more than three years, we have again examined the housing situation of Poles. Seven out of ten live in houses (50%) or apartments (21%) that either they themselves own, or their spouses. Almost one-fifth (17%) live with parents or other family members, usually in houses (12%) rather than in apartments (5%). One in twenty-five respondents (4%) rents an apartment from someone else. Four out of one hundred (4%) occupy municipal or service apartments, and one in a hundred (1%) lives in a cooperative apartment.

Over the past three years, the percentage of respondents living in their own house (or their spouse's) or in their parents' or family's house has increased by 8 points, to 62%. Fewer people (a decrease of 7 points to 26%) report living in their own apartments or in an apartment owned by their parents or other family.

Which of the following best describes your housing situation?

Houses prevail in rural areas. Over four-fifths of residents there (82%) live in single-family building. Almost half of city-dwellers (48%) also live in houses, while over two-fifths (43%) live in multi-family buildings. Almost all respondents live independently (92%). Less than one-tenth (8%) share an apartment with people not belonging to their household. This situation has not changed since 2007. In contrast, in the second half of the 1990s, over a quarter of respondents declared sharing an apartment or house with people not belonging to their household.

Do you and other people in your household live independently or share an apartment with someone else (people not belonging to your household)?

As in previous years, shared living space primarily involves relatives or in-laws (89%). Few people (11%) share their home with unrelated individuals.