Get it out of the basement immediately. Inspections have already begun, with fines of up to 5,000 PLN. Poles are flouting the ban en masse.

• Storing flammable materials in the basement may result in a fine of up to PLN 5,000 or criminal liability.
• Items such as gas cylinders, fuel canisters, solvents, and fireworks are not allowed in the basement.
• Moisture and mold destroy furniture, clothes, and documents – not everything that is legal is suitable for storage in the basement.

A basement in an apartment building isn't the place for everything that doesn't fit in the apartment. While many people treat it as a storage room where "everything will come in handy," the regulations are clear: certain items are prohibited. You can face hefty fines and even criminal liability for doing so. Find out what you absolutely shouldn't keep in your basement to avoid problems.

Furniture, paint, canisters, gas cylinders… Many people still cram everything that would interfere with their home into the basement. This is a serious mistake, experts and authorities warn.

Following the tragic fire in a Poznań tenement building in 2024, basement inspections in apartment buildings have intensified. Firefighters and building administrators have the authority to conduct random inspections. Severe penalties, not just financial, are imposed for violations.

What can't be kept in the basement? List of prohibited items

In accordance with fire regulations and the Regulation of the Ministry of Interior and Administration of June 7, 2010, no flammable or explosive materials may be stored in the basement. Here is a list of items that are strictly prohibited:

• gas cylinders, even small ones, e.g. for tourists,
• canisters of gasoline, diesel and other fuels,
• solvents, varnishes, adhesives and solvent-based paints,
• fireworks and firecrackers,
• car batteries and other chemical energy sources.

Storing these materials can result in fines, reprimands, and in extreme cases, arrest. And if a fire or explosion occurs, the owner may be liable for civil or criminal penalties. The fine for storing prohibited items in a basement can be up to 5,000 PLN.

Legal, but not recommended. It's also best not to keep these things in the basement.

There are items that, while stored in a basement, are legal, but they can be a waste. Moisture, mold, lack of ventilation, and low temperatures cause many items to quickly spoil, deteriorate, or become a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria.

What is better not to keep in the basement, even though it is legal?

• upholstered furniture - absorbs moisture, molds, loses shape,
• books, documents, photos - paper deteriorates easily and attracts fungi,
• clothes, bedding, carpets - they are soaked with a musty smell, often beyond repair,
• food (flour, rice, sugar, pasta) - easily attracts insects and rodents, absorbs odors,
• stuffed animals, toys, shoes - moisture and bacteria quickly destroy them,
• bags, suitcases, leather goods - natural leather does not tolerate contact with moisture and rodents well.

If you must store something in the basement, avoid cardboard boxes. They absorb moisture like a sponge. Airtight plastic containers, preferably with a lid and seal, work much better.

What to do with the stuff in your basement? Use PSZOK.

Instead of stuffing prohibited or flammable items in the basement, dispose of them where they belong. Most cities have Municipal Waste Selective Collection Points (PSZOK). They accept items such as:

• paints and solvents,
• used batteries,
• old furniture and electronic equipment,
• bulky waste.

PSZOKs operate free of charge and help legally dispose of problematic items that shouldn't end up in the garbage shed or basement. It's worth checking the local collection point's schedule on the municipality's website.