Mortgage Payment Holidays in 2026 — The Facts Every Borrower Needs
Every summer, thousands of Polish mortgage holders ask the same question: can I pause my monthly repayment and get some breathing room? In 2022, 2023 and 2024 the answer was straightforward — statutory payment holidays covered almost every borrower with a zloty-denominated home loan. In 2026 the picture is fundamentally different, and it pays to know the facts before submitting a request your bank is obliged to decline.
Short answer: there are no statutory mortgage payment holidays in Poland in 2026. The government programme expired on 31 December 2024, and the Ministry of Finance has not renewed it. That does not mean you are without options — there are three real alternatives worth knowing about.
How Did the Statutory Payment Holiday Work?
Poland launched statutory mortgage payment holidays in 2022 as a government response to a sharp spike in NBP interest rates. At its peak in 2022–2023, any holder of a zloty mortgage could suspend repayments for four months per year with no income test whatsoever — regardless of earnings or outstanding balance. Hundreds of thousands of Polish families used the programme.
Terms of the final edition (2024)
The last edition of the programme ran from 15 May to 31 December 2024 and was considerably more targeted. The government tightened the criteria to direct support to those who genuinely needed it. Conditions were as follows:
- Only zloty-denominated residential mortgages — no foreign-currency or consumer loans
- Maximum 2 instalments suspended during June–August 2024
- Maximum 2 instalments suspended during September–December 2024
- Total maximum of 4 instalments for the whole of 2024
- Income test: payment-to-income ratio (RdD) above 30% or at least 3 dependent children
One important technical detail: a suspended instalment did not disappear. Banks pushed it to the end of the loan term, and interest continued to accrue on the deferred amount. This was a deferral of a liability, not a cancellation — it increased the total cost of the mortgage.
Why Are There No Statutory Payment Holidays in 2026?
The Ministry of Finance argues that the mortgage market has stabilised. The Monetary Policy Council (RPP) cut the NBP reference rate by a cumulative 2 percentage points over the past 12 months — in June 2026 it stands at 3.75%, the lowest in four years. A monthly repayment on a PLN 300,000 mortgage over 25 years is now several hundred zloty lower than at the 2023 peak.
Some politicians have indicated that payment holidays could return to the agenda if banks fail to reduce their lending margins — but that remains a political statement without a draft bill in the legislative process. The government position is clear: the programme served its purpose and will not be renewed in its current form.
Three Real Alternatives for 2026
1. Commercial payment holiday from your bank
Most major Polish banks — PKO BP, Pekao, mBank, Santander, Millennium and others — offer the ability to pause one or more instalments under their own commercial terms. This is not a statutory right; the bank can refuse or impose its own conditions. Typically this means a suspension of one to three months, a possible administration fee (usually PLN 0–150), and accrued interest being added to the outstanding loan balance or spread across remaining instalments.
You can usually apply via the bank's mobile app or at a branch. Banks do not advertise this option prominently, but most clients with a clean repayment history and no arrears are approved. Before acting, call your bank and ask about current conditions — procedures vary between institutions.
2. Borrower Support Fund (FWK) — for genuine hardship cases
The Borrower Support Fund (FWK — Fundusz Wsparcia Kredytobiorców) is a state programme run by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), aimed at mortgage borrowers experiencing real financial difficulty. In 2026 it is the most significant formal safety net for those who objectively cannot meet their mortgage repayments. The programme provides two forms of support:
- Up to PLN 3,000 per month for a maximum of 40 months — funds paid directly towards your mortgage instalment
- An interest-free loan of up to PLN 120,000 to repay outstanding mortgage debt after a property sale
FWK support is a loan, not a grant. Repayment begins two years after the final support payment, spread over 200 equal interest-free instalments. If you make 134 consecutive on-time payments, BGK writes off the remainder — making FWK an exceptionally advantageous instrument for those who genuinely need it.
Who qualifies? You need a mortgage and must meet at least one of the following conditions:
- Monthly mortgage repayment exceeds 40% of household income
- Monthly income minus repayment falls below PLN 1,940 (single person) or PLN 1,500 per person (multi-person household)
- Job loss or another serious life event such as illness or the death of a co-borrower
Apply directly at the bank that issued your mortgage — they verify the documentation and forward it to BGK. Processing time at BGK: up to 21 working days.
3. Mortgage refinancing — the smart move for 2022–2023 loans
If your mortgage dates from the rate peak of 2022–2023 and the bank margin has never been renegotiated, it is worth checking whether refinancing with another bank would reduce your monthly repayment. A margin difference of just 0.2–0.3 percentage points on a PLN 400,000 outstanding balance saves PLN 800–1,200 per year — and keeps saving that amount every year until the end of the mortgage term. That is a permanent reduction in the cost of your loan, not a one-off suspension.
Use our mortgage comparison tool on BankSorter.com to see current margins and APRCs from all major Polish banks side by side. You can filter by loan amount and term to calculate the real difference in your monthly payment.
How to Apply for FWK — Step by Step
If you meet the FWK conditions, the entire process runs through your bank — you do not need to contact BGK independently:
- Step 1: Contact your bank (phone, mobile app or branch) and ask for a Borrower Support Fund (FWK) application form
- Step 2: Gather supporting documents — proof of income, evidence of job loss, medical certificates or any other documentation the bank requires
- Step 3: The bank checks the application package is complete and forwards it to BGK
- Step 4: BGK issues a decision within 21 working days; if approved, funds are paid directly towards your mortgage instalment
Important: FWK is designed for genuine financial hardship — it is not a tool for temporarily boosting your budget for summer spending. Both the bank and BGK verify all documentation and may request additional materials.
Summary — What Should You Do Now?
If you need to ease the pressure on your household budget in 2026, you have three concrete paths:
- Ask your bank about a commercial payment holiday — the fastest option, available to most clients with a clean repayment history, but at the bank's discretion
- Check your FWK eligibility — if your repayment exceeds 40% of your income or you have lost your job, this is real help of up to PLN 3,000 per month for over three years
- Consider refinancing — if you have an older mortgage with a high margin, switching bank delivers a permanent reduction, not just a few months of relief
Keep in mind: a deferred instalment does not disappear — interest accrues and increases your outstanding balance. Treat suspension as a last resort rather than a routine tool. Refinancing typically delivers a better financial outcome over a multi-year horizon than a temporary pause in repayments.
Want to check whether your mortgage is still competitive on the market? Compare mortgage offers on BankSorter.com. And if you have savings looking for a home, check our deposit rate comparison and savings account rankings — updated with current rates from all Polish banks.