Having children drastically reduces mortgage creditworthiness in Poland, by up to 415,000 PLN

The birth of a child can drastically alter housing plans for young Polish families, primarily by diminishing their borrowing capacity for mortgages. Even a first child can reduce a couple's creditworthiness by around 95,000 Polish zloty (PLN), according to calculations by Rankomat experts cited by Business Insider.

For families with more children, the impact is even more pronounced. A couple with two children could see their creditworthiness drop by 245,000 PLN, while those with three children face a reduction of up to 415,000 PLN compared to childless couples, assuming a net monthly income of 12,000 PLN. This financial reality often pushes couples to secure a property before having children or makes it significantly harder for larger families to move to a bigger home.

Experts from ANG Odpowiedzialne Finanse also point out that a childless couple earning 8,000 PLN net per month could qualify for a mortgage of over 515,000 PLN. However, a family with one child would have their borrowing capacity reduced to approximately 400,000 PLN. These figures translate to a tangible difference in available living space, with a childless couple potentially affording about 32 square meters in Warsaw, while a family with one child might only manage around 25 square meters in the capital.

While higher incomes can mitigate this effect, with couples earning 11,000 PLN net monthly seeing little difference, and those earning 15,000 PLN potentially even benefiting from child benefits like the 800+ program, the core issue remains. Banks have varying assessment criteria, leading to significant differences in loan offers. Despite these challenges, the mortgage market showed signs of revival in April 2026, with over 42,000 applications, a nearly 19% increase year-on-year, and the average loan amount exceeding 500,000 PLN.