Seniors are increasingly deciding to take this step. In 2025, a record was broken

As data from the Ministry of Justice show, every year the number of seniors entering into annuity contracts increases. Last year there were over 19.8 thousand of them. As “Gazeta Wyborcza” notes, in 2013 there were approximately 8.5 thousand contracts of this type. A significant increase occurred after the pandemic in 2020. Last year, there were 13.5 thousand of them, but in 2021 – almost 16.5 thousand. This may mean that the pandemic has made many people think about the future and safety.

A record was broken for annuity contracts

– In 2025, a record was broken for the number of annuity contracts concluded. There were twice as many as ten years earlier. This change is undoubtedly related to demographic trends, but also to the care problems experienced by seniors – Andrzej Prajsnar, an expert from the GetHome.pl portal, comments for “Wyborcza”.

Experts emphasize that an annuity contract is nothing more than an “exchange transaction”. – The senior transfers ownership of his real estate to another person, who in return undertakes to provide him with lifelong maintenance. This is not a promise like “I will visit grandma on Sunday”. It’s a tough legal obligation – explains Iwo Klisz, founder of “Klisz i Wspólnicy Law Firm of Attorneys and Legal Advisors”.

The annuity contract is concluded at the notary’s office. It assumes that a senior can live in his or her home for life, while the person to whom he or she hands over the home must take care of it until he or she dies. In practice, this means, among others: the need to provide food and clothes, care during illness, or pay bills. Ultimately, it is the person’s responsibility to organize and finance the burial.

Experts point out that it is worth specifying specific obligations in the contract to avoid any misunderstandings later.

If the selected person does not meet expectations, it is possible to exchange all or some of the entitlements for a life annuity. – This means that the court determines the amount that the buyer must pay every month, instead of buying food or paying for electricity. Thanks to this, you can, for example, rent another apartment or pay for a nursing home – explains Iwo Klisz.

In extreme cases (e.g. when the buyer commits violence against an elderly person), it is possible to terminate the annuity contract by the court. The apartment then returns to the senior. However, experts emphasize that this is a difficult process.

An annuity contract can be concluded with a family member, a trusted person (e.g. a neighbor), or with a mortgage fund. This last option, however, is very little popular, 99%. contracts are concluded between private persons. The contracts most often concern residential premises and houses (almost 17,000), less frequently agricultural properties (less than 3,000).