Renovation Work With No Written Contract — Can You Still Make a Claim?

Q: Can a building surveyor assess a verbal agreement?

No — a surveyor (rzeczoznawca budowlany) can assess the state of the work (what was done, and how well), but cannot confirm what was agreed on price or timing. That said, their report can still support your case. --- Content last verified: 26 June 2026.

You asked a friend or a local builder to do some renovation work — no paperwork, no contract, just a handshake and a "trust me" arrangement. Now the work hasn't been finished, or it's been done badly, or you haven't paid and you're facing the threat of court action — and both sides are wondering what actually applies when there's no contract in writing. The good news is that a verbal agreement is, in principle, legally binding in Poland — the real problem is evidence. This guide explains how to prove a verbal agreement and what documentation strengthens your position.

This guide is general legal information, not legal advice. How the rules apply depends on the contract terms, the evidence available and the circumstances, and on whether the matter is treated as a consumer, civil, or business (B2B) dispute. If you need advice or representation, the matter should be assessed by a qualified Polish lawyer or an appropriate specialist. Twoja Sprawa helps you organise the documents for that assessment.

Is a verbal agreement legally binding? — Yes, but…

Under the Polish Civil Code (Kodeks cywilny), a contract for building or renovation work does not have to be in writing. A verbal agreement is, in principle, fully binding on both parties. The problem starts in court: how do you prove the conversation happened, what was agreed, and who failed to deliver?

Example: - You: "I agreed the renovation would cost 5,000 PLN and take a month." - The builder: "I never said any of that — we agreed 7,000 PLN, with no fixed deadline."

The court hears both sides. If you have no evidence — no texts, emails, invoices, or witnesses — your case is on shakier ground.

What counts as evidence of a verbal agreement — the list

The more of the following you have, the stronger your position:

🇵🇱

A Polish legal matter while you live in the UK?

Describe your situation — the initial review is free and non-binding. We match you with a regulated Polish lawyer; most matters are handled remotely under a power of attorney.

Request a free initial assessment

Evidence	Role	Strength
Texts / WhatsApp / Messenger messages	"Sure, I'll do the kitchen renovation for 5,000, finished by end of March" — sets out scope and price clearly	Very strong — the written text stands as testimony
Emails	Even a short exchange of emails can establish the key terms of the agreement	Very strong — sometimes a single email is enough
Bank transfers	Payment reference: "Renovation, first stage of works" or "Deposit for kitchen renovation"	Strong — both the amount and the description confirm the agreement
Invoices / receipts	Even if issued after the event, if they describe the work, they serve as documentary evidence of the agreement	Strong — a formal business document
Photos of the work	Before/after shots, dated — show what was supposed to be done and what was actually delivered	Moderate — supports your version of the facts, but doesn't prove the agreed price
Witness statements	Family, neighbours who heard the conversations — but only if they're willing to give evidence in court	Moderate — testimony can be challenged
A dated note you wrote yourself	As a precaution — if you text or note down details straight after the conversation, you may still need to prove it's genuine	Weak — it's only your own account
Materials or equipment already gathered	If you'd already bought materials or had equipment on site, this supports the fact that work had actually started	Moderate — supports that an arrangement existed, but not the agreed price

How to prove a verbal agreement — strategies

Strategy 1: Collect texts and emails as you go

If you still have the chance — starting now: - Send confirmations: "Thanks for agreeing to the renovation for 5,000 PLN, finished by end of March — is that right?" - Wait for a reply (even "OK" is enough). - Keep everything.

This strengthens your evidence because it shows both parties agreed and neither side objected at the time.

Strategy 2: Pull your invoices and bank statements

Even if the builder never issued anything, your bank transfers can say a lot: - How many times did you pay, and when? - What reference did you put on the payment? - Do the amounts match your version of the agreement?

Banks keep transaction history for years — you can request statements.

Strategy 3: Witnesses

If your parents, partner or neighbours heard the conversation — note down their names. They can give evidence in court. But there's a condition: a witness has to be willing to attend court and give sworn testimony. Not everyone is prepared to do that.

Strategy 4: Document the work itself

Before/after photos are compelling: - Dated photos showing the work carried out. - They demonstrate that an agreement existed (because work was done), although they don't settle the question of price.

Strategy 5: A letter before action

Once the dispute has escalated, send a formal letter before action (recorded delivery, to the builder's address): - "I am writing to demand repayment of 5,000 PLN for the kitchen renovation, agreed on 1 March 2025 for 5,000 PLN, to be finished by end of April. The work was partially completed / unsatisfactory / the following remains outstanding…"

If the builder does not respond or object, their silence may be treated by the court as an implicit acknowledgement of your claim.

When you're unlikely to succeed — a realistic assessment

No evidence at all. No texts, no emails, no transfers, nothing. The court will have doubts — the outcome is uncertain.
Conflicting versions on the key terms. You say "5,000 PLN", they say "10,000 PLN". Without any document, this is hard to resolve.
Waiting too long. You wait a year or two and only then go to court — the court will ask why now, and not sooner. This weakens your credibility.
A biased witness. Family members are always seen as taking your side — the court is aware of this.

Consumer vs business — what's the difference

If you were acting as a consumer (a private individual, renovating your own home, not for business purposes): - You have access to a free consumer ombudsman (rzecznik konsumentów), - You can use the simplified court procedure for smaller claims, - Lighter evidential requirements apply in small claims (up to 2,000 PLN).

If you were acting as a business (running a company, renovating commercial premises) — the commercial rules are stricter.

What you can claim without a written contract

Under Article 471 of the Polish Civil Code (breach/improper performance of an obligation), you may be able to claim:

A refund of money already paid (if the work was substandard or not carried out at all),
Compensation for the cost of correcting the work — if you had to hire another contractor,
Compensation for the inconvenience — if you were living in an unfinished, part-renovated property,
Damages for distress (in consumer cases) for stress and wasted time.

Without a written contract, however, these figures will be harder to calculate precisely — you won't have anything "on paper" setting out what was promised.

Limitation periods

A contract for specific work (umowa o dzieło): 2 years from completion of the work (Article 646 of the Civil Code),
General property/financial claims: 6 years (Article 118 of the Civil Code),
Claims connected with business activity: 3 years.

Without a written contract, the limitation clock generally starts running from when you become aware of the problem (e.g. from when the work stopped).

Mistakes you should avoid

Delaying your claim. The sooner you act, the better — witnesses' memories fade and you're more likely to remember the details clearly.
Relying on "I'll sort it out in court" without documenting the conversations. Always send a text or email confirming what was said.
Ignoring small inconsistencies. "I thought it was 4,000, but maybe it was 5,000" — the other side will seize on this.
Not keeping records. Transfers, texts, invoices — keep copies of everything (dated screenshots included).
Going straight to court without a letter before action. Most courts expect you to show you first tried to resolve the matter amicably (Article 187 of the Polish Code of Civil Procedure, KPC).

Frequently asked questions

Is a text message evidence of a contract? Yes — a dated text pointing to an agreement is evidence. The court will weigh it alongside the other evidence. If the text says "Sure, 5,000 PLN, finished by end of April", that's strong evidence.

Can I use a text message from several years ago as evidence? Yes, but it carries less weight. The more recent the text, the better — memories are fresher. If the text is from 2023 and you're only starting proceedings in 2025, the court will ask why you waited.

What if we both deny each other's version in court? Without further evidence, it comes down to one person's word against the other's. The court assesses the credibility of both sides. If you have even one text message, you're in a stronger position. If you have a witness too, stronger still.

Can a printed email be used as evidence of the agreement? Yes — a printed copy of an email can be used as evidence (though its authenticity may need to be shown). It's better, though, to submit a dated screenshot showing the date and time it was sent.

Can a building surveyor assess a verbal agreement? No — a surveyor (rzeczoznawca budowlany) can assess the state of the work (what was done, and how well), but cannot confirm what was agreed on price or timing. That said, their report can still support your case.

Content last verified: 26 June 2026.

Checklist: what to gather for a case with no written contract

[ ] Texts, WhatsApp, Messenger — all correspondence with the builder
[ ] Emails — even short confirmations
[ ] Bank transfers — statements with payment references
[ ] Invoices/receipts — if any exist
[ ] Photos of the work — dated
[ ] Names of witnesses (if any)
[ ] A note of the date the agreement was made and its terms (if you remember them precisely)
[ ] Evidence of spending on materials/another contractor (if you had the work finished elsewhere)
[ ] Correspondence including any letter before action already sent