Alternative Premises for Occasional Tenancy – What Is It and Where to Get One?
October 28, 2026
Alternative premises – a short definition
Alternative premises (Polish: lokal zastępczy) in occasional tenancy are a flat where the tenant will be able to live if, after the agreement ends, they do not move out voluntarily and the obligation to vacate is enforced. The tenant indicates such premises before signing the agreement, and their owner agrees in writing that the tenant (and the people living with them) may move there.
In practice, alternative premises are also called an eviction address, a moving-out address or simply an address for occasional tenancy. All of these terms mean the same thing.
Why are alternative premises needed at all?
Occasional tenancy gives the landlord a big advantage over a standard lease: if problems arise, eviction can be carried out without years of court proceedings, based on the tenant's notarial declaration of submission to enforcement. Importantly, in occasional tenancy the tenant is not entitled to social housing or temporary accommodation from the municipality.
The legislator had to make sure, however, that an evicted tenant does not end up on the street. The solution is precisely the alternative premises — the tenant secures, in advance, a place where the bailiff can move them. Thanks to this, the landlord does not have to wait for a free municipal flat, and the tenant is guaranteed a roof over their head.
Legal basis
The requirements for alternative premises come from Article 19a(2) of the Act of 21 June 2001 on the protection of tenants' rights, municipal housing stock and amending the Civil Code. The occasional tenancy agreement must be accompanied by, among other things:
- the tenant's indication of other premises where they will be able to live in case of enforcement (point 2),
- a declaration by the owner of those premises (or a person holding legal title to them) consenting to the tenant and the people living with them residing there (point 3).
In addition, the tenant's notarial declaration of submission to enforcement is required (point 1). We discuss the owner's declaration in detail in the article The Alternative Premises Owner's Declaration – Template and Requirements.
What conditions must alternative premises meet?
The law is surprisingly undemanding here. What matters most is that the premises actually exist and that the person giving consent holds legal title to them. In practice:
- The premises must exist and have a specific address — street, building and flat number, town.
- Consent is given by a person with legal title — usually the owner, but also e.g. a person holding a cooperative right to the premises.
- It cannot be the rented flat itself — the alternative address is always a different flat from the one you are renting.
- It can be located anywhere in Poland — the law does not require it to be in the same city as the rented flat.
- It does not have to be empty — the consent concerns the possibility of living there in the future, in case of enforcement. The premises may be occupied by the owner or other people in the meantime.
- The law does not set a standard or size — there are no requirements as to floor area or number of rooms.
Where to get alternative premises? 4 options
1. Your own flat or a share in a property
If you own a flat in another city (e.g. your hometown) or are a co-owner of a property, you can indicate it as the alternative premises. This is the simplest solution — everything depends on you. With co-ownership, it is worth having the consent of the other co-owners.
2. A flat belonging to parents, siblings or other relatives
The most common route. A parent or sibling signs a declaration that, in case of enforcement, they will take you in. The problem is that many people do not want to sign such a document — they fear that "someone will move in on them", or simply do not understand what the consent covers. Relatives may also live abroad or rent rather than own a flat.
3. A friend's flat
Legally there is nothing to prevent it — the law does not require any family relationship. In practice, asking a friend for such a signature can be awkward, and relationships change. If your friend sells the flat while your agreement is in force, you will have to find a new address quickly.
4. A ready-made declaration from a company
An increasingly popular option, especially among people who have moved to another city, students and foreigners. A company that owns premises issues the alternative premises owner's declaration for a one-off fee. You do not have to ask anyone for a favour, and the document is prepared in line with the statutory requirements.
Comparison of options
| Source of premises | Cost | Time | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own flat | PLN 0 | immediately | available only to property owners |
| Family | PLN 0 | depends on relatives | refusal, awkwardness, change in family situation |
| Friends | PLN 0 | depends on friends | sale of the flat, change in relationship |
| Company | from PLN 299 | up to 24 h | you need to choose a reliable provider |
You can read more about costs in the article Occasional tenancy costs.
What if the alternative premises "disappear" during the tenancy?
It happens that the owner of the alternative premises sells the flat, or for other reasons the tenant loses the possibility of living at the indicated address. The law provides for this: the tenant has 21 days from the day they learned of it to indicate new premises and provide a new owner's declaration (Article 19a(4)). If they fail to do so, the landlord may terminate the agreement with 7 days' notice.
That is why, when choosing alternative premises, it is worth thinking about stability — will the person giving consent keep the flat for the entire tenancy period?
What does the landlord check?
The owner of the rented flat (or the estate agency) usually checks whether:
- the address in the tenant's indication and in the owner's declaration is identical,
- the declaration was signed by a person who actually holds legal title to the premises (sometimes they ask for the land and mortgage register number),
- the declaration refers to a specific agreement and specific tenants,
- the consent also covers people who will live with the tenant (e.g. a partner, children).
Some landlords additionally require the signature of the alternative premises owner to be notarially certified — the law gives them this right, although it is not the norm. More in the article Does the Alternative Address for Occasional Tenancy Need to Be Notarized?
How it works with us
If you do not have a flat of your own or anyone who would lend you their address, you can order a ready-made declaration from us. You fill in a short form with your agreement details, and we prepare the complete set of documents:
- the tenant's indication of alternative premises — completed with your details, ready to sign,
- the alternative premises owner's declaration — signed on behalf of our company, which owns the premises.
The electronic version costs PLN 299 and arrives in your inbox within 24 hours on business days. If your landlord requires a notarially certified signature, choose the PLN 399 version with the original sent by courier. The price covers all tenants on one agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Can the alternative premises be in a different city from the rented flat?
Yes. The law does not restrict the location of alternative premises — they can be anywhere in Poland.
Do I have to be registered (zameldowany) at the alternative premises?
No. Indicating alternative premises does not involve registering your residence there or any obligation to live there during the tenancy.
Does the owner of the alternative premises pay my rent or answer for my debts?
No. The declaration concerns only consent to residence in case of enforcement. The owner of the alternative premises does not become a guarantor and is not liable for your obligations to the landlord.
Can a flat that someone rents be used as alternative premises?
It is safest when the declaration is signed by the owner of the premises. A person who only rents a flat has limited rights to decide who lives there — the landlord may challenge such a document.
Can a foreigner indicate alternative premises abroad?
In practice, the alternative premises should be located in Poland — a Polish bailiff cannot carry out enforcement abroad. That is why foreigners without family in Poland most often use a declaration from a company.
Summary
Alternative premises are a flat to which the tenant can be moved in case of eviction — without them there is no occasional tenancy. They can be your own flat, a flat belonging to family or friends, or — if you have no such option — a declaration from a company. The most important thing is that the owner holds legal title to the premises and that their consent remains stable for the entire tenancy. If you are looking for a quick solution, order the declaration online — you can receive the documents even on the same day.