New requirements for apartments are introduced. Are higher prices coming?

Until recently, the choice of apartment was primarily determined by location, size and price. Nowadays, acoustic comfort also plays an increasingly important role. It will become one of the most important elements of the new construction regulations.

From September 2026, the updated Technical Conditions (TTC 2026) will come into force, which will tighten the requirements for noise protection in residential buildings.

For developers, this means the need to use new design solutions, and for buyers – a greater chance of living more peacefully in their own apartment.

Noise is one of the biggest problems for residents

The list of the most annoying sounds has remained similar for years. Residents are most disturbed by the footsteps of neighbors from the upper floors, loud music from behind the walls, the noise of elevators, slamming entrance and staircase doors, the sounds of water and sewage systems and echoes in the common areas of the building.

The growing popularity of remote and hybrid work means that Poles spend much more time at home than a few years ago. As a result, they pay more and more attention to the sounds coming from behind the walls, from staircases or technical installations.

– Acoustic comfort has always been an important argument for buyers, but today it has become one of the key elements in assessing the quality of an apartment. Buyers increasingly pay attention to privacy and comfort of everyday functioning, and not only to the basic parameters of the property – emphasizes Piotr Łopatka, operational director and member of the management board of Area Development.

As he explains, the level of soundproofing of an apartment is determined not only by the thickness of the walls. Equally important are the location of elevators and technical rooms, the quality of materials and the method of installation.

The new regulations will cover more than just walls

The September amendment will introduce the obligation to meet the AQ-0 acoustic class. In practice, this means a higher level of protection against sounds penetrating both from neighboring premises and from the common parts of the building.

To meet the new requirements, investors will have to ensure, among others: about:

• more effective soundproofing of ceilings,

• better insulation of entrance doors,

• installation noise reduction,

• appropriate design of the layout of technical rooms,

• elimination of acoustic bridges.

– In practice, the new regulations enforce standards similar to the existing premium class – says Piotr Łopatka.

In his opinion, the challenge will be the preparation of mandatory acoustic designs and the availability of specialists dealing with this type of documentation.

The new requirements may increase housing costs

New regulations mean the need to use more advanced technologies and materials. Buildings will more often use walls made of high-density materials, joinery with better acoustic parameters, and specialized solutions limiting the transmission of vibrations.

All this will increase the costs of investment implementation, which may also translate into apartment prices. According to industry representatives, however, the increase in costs may prove temporary as the market quickly adapts to the new standards.

– What was once an additional option is now a standard beyond which no one designs anymore – sums up Łopatka, comparing the upcoming changes to the earlier popularization of triple-glazed windows after the entry into force of the WT 2021 regulations.