A complete and simple analysis of the program without complex banking formulations

Buying an apartment in Poland often comes up against one problem -
no down payment.

Many have income and creditworthiness,
but collecting 50-100 thousand zlotys can be difficult.

This program was created for exactly these situations.
Rodzinny Kredyt Mieszkaniowy (RKM).

In this article I explain in simple language:

• What is RKM?
• How does the deposit guarantee work?
• What are the limits for 2026?
• who can get it
• How much money is really needed?
• pros and cons of the program

No advertising or bank fluff.

🏦 Who is Rodzinny Kredyt Mieszkaniowy

Rodzinny Kredyt Mieszkaniowy is a state program of Poland,
which allows you to take out a mortgage without your own down payment.

The deposit is guaranteed by a state bank.
BGK (Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego).

It is important to understand:

👉 The state does NOT give cash in hand
👉 This is a regular mortgage loan
👉 The state simply guarantees your contribution to the bank.

Thanks to this, the bank can issue a loan even without your savings.

💰 Maximum guarantee and apartment price

The main limitation of the program:

maximum guarantee - 100,000 zł

It means:

If you buy without any down payment at all -
maximum cost of an apartment 500,000 zł

Why?
20% from 500,000 = 100,000 zł
This is the maximum guarantee of the state.

Examples

Apartment 500,000 zł
You can buy without a down payment.

Apartment 600,000 zł
20% = 120,000 zł
Guarantee is only 100,000
→ you need to have 20,000 zł of your own

Apartment 1,000,000 zł
20% = 200,000 zł
100,000 guarantee
100,000 of my own money

🏠 Maximum real estate price

There is one more limit.

Sum:

• your contribution
  • BGK guarantees

cannot exceed 200,000 zł

Therefore, the maximum price of real estate is:
about 1,000,000 zł

📋 Key terms of the 2026 program

• loan term from 15 to 35 years
• only in zlotys
• for personal use only
• there is no official age limit
• can only be used once in a lifetime

This is a regular mortgage:

• percent
• insurance
• monthly payments

The program only replaces the fee.

👤 Who can get RKM?

Marital status

They can:

• single
• married couples
• an unmarried couple with a common child

If you are just a couple without children -
The program is unavailable.

Real estate in ownership

At the time of submission:

You cannot have:

• apartment
• house
• share in real estate

Exceptions:
if the share up to 50% was received by inheritance
and you don't live there.

Families with children are an exception

You can have an apartment if it is small:

• 2 children → up to 50 m²
• 3 children → up to 75 m²
• 4 children → up to 90 m²
• 5+ → unlimited

Then you can buy a bigger one.

Income and documents

Can receive:

• citizens of Poland
• foreigners with legal income in Poland

Income must be:

• official
• in zł
• with taxes in Poland

Creditworthiness

Important:

Program does not improve creditworthiness.

If the bank does not give regular mortgage —
RKM won't give it either.

🏘 What can you buy with RKM?

Can:

• new building apartment
• secondary market
• house
• house construction
• apartment + renovation

It is forbidden:

• buy a plot of land "for the future"«
• investment property
• only for change

Housing should be for yourself.

📊 Price limits per m² (very important)

The apartment must have a suitable
price limit per m².

Limits:

• different by voivodeship
• different for new buildings and secondary housing
• updated every 3 months

If the apartment is above the limit -
the bank will refuse.

Even if it is 1 zł more expensive.

👶 Family payment is a bonus from the state

This is one of the best parts of the program.

If a child is born after the purchase:

• second child → 20,000 zł
• third and each subsequent → 60,000 zł

This money:
go straight to the bank
reduce the loan

Important:

• you can't rent out the apartment
• Cannot be sold for 5 years
  after receiving additional payment

💸 How much does it cost to participate in the program?

There is one direct payment for the guarantee:

1% from the guarantee amount

Example:
guarantee of 100,000 zł
payment = 1,000 zł (one-time)

If the guarantee is 60,000 zł
payment = 600 zł

Other expenses as with a regular mortgage

• notary
• real estate appraisal
• insurance
• bank commission (sometimes)
• realtor services
• PCC if it's a secondary property and not your first property

Usually:
1% – 5% of the apartment price

🏦 Banks with the RKM program (2026)

Currently participating:

• PKO BP
• Pekao
• Santander
• Alior Bank

The list may change.

⚠️ Disadvantages of the program

Honestly, as a realtor.

Price restrictions

Not every apartment can be bought.

Few banks

There is less choice.

Payment is higher

Without a down payment the loan is larger.

Checks are stricter

The bank checks carefully.

💡 When RKM is a great solution

If:

• stable work
• normal income
• no savings
• I'm tired of filming
• young family

Then the program really helps you buy a home faster.

🧠 My advice as a practitioner

Don't start by looking for an apartment.

At first:

1. Check creditworthiness
2. Check RKM limits
3. Calculate the budget

And only then look at the housing.

That's what smart shoppers do.