Komornik Auctions: How Resellers Buy at Bailiff Auctions in Poland

What bailiff auctions of movables are

When a court rules that someone must pay a debt and they cannot or will not pay, the court can order the bailiff to seize and sell their movable property — cars, electronics, furniture, tools, household goods. The bailiff publishes an obwieszczenie (notice) on the court notice board and on the Krajowa Rada Komornicza website licytacje.komornik.pl.

The notice states the time and place of the auction, a description of the items, the valuation (oszacowanie), the starting price and when and where you can inspect the property before bidding. This is a public process, and anyone can attend or bid — with certain legal exclusions.

Starting price, valuation and the second auction

The valuation is an expert estimate of what the items are worth. At the first auction, the starting price is three-quarters (3/4) of the valuation. If no bid reaches that price, the court can order a second auction where the starting price drops to one-half (1/2) of the valuation. The item cannot be sold below the starting price at either auction.

For example, if an item is valued at 8,000 zł, the first auction starts at 6,000 zł. If nothing sells, the second auction starts at 4,000 zł. The rękojmia deposit (see below) is calculated from the valuation, not the starting price.

Rękojmia: the deposit and when you lose it

To bid, you must pay rękojmia — a deposit of one-tenth (1/10) of the valuation. For on-site auctions, this must be paid by the end of the business day before the auction. If the valuation is below 5,000 zł, no rękojmia is required for on-site auctions.

For e-auctions, you must transfer the rękojmia to the bailiff's bank account at least two working days before the auction start time. The bailiff's account details appear in the auction notice.

You lose the rękojmia if:

• You win and do not pay the full price by the deadline
• Your bid is invalid because you were excluded from bidding

The rękojmia is not a fee — it counts toward your final payment if you win.

Online e-licytacja step by step

Most movable auctions now run online through the e-licytacja system. Here is how it works, as set out in KPC art. 879² through 879⁹ (checked against the text in force as of 14 September 2026):

1. Notice published — at least seven calendar days before the auction, the notice appears on licytacje.komornik.pl with photos, a description, the valuation, starting price, inspection times and the bailiff's bank details.
2. Inspection — the notice states when and where you can view the items. This is your only chance to check condition before bidding.
3. Register and pay rękojmia — you create an account on the portal (the regulamin and registration steps were not verified for this page — read them before bidding). Transfer the rękojmia at least two working days before the auction starts. You provide your PESEL number, ID document number and a marital-property statement.
4. The auction runs — seven calendar days, starting and ending between 09:00 and 14:00 on working days. Bidding is incremental.
5. Extension rule — a bid placed in the last five minutes extends the auction by five minutes. This can repeat.
6. Przybicie (knock-down) — the highest bid is confirmed. The court serves a notice, and the winner must pay by 18:00 on the next business day.
7. Collection — you collect the items immediately after payment. No delay, no holding period.

Inspecting before you bid

The notice tells you exactly where and when the movables can be inspected. This is critical — you are buying without warranty, so you must see what you are getting.

What to check for resale:

• Physical condition: cracks, scratches, missing parts, wear on edges
• Electronics: does it power on, are cables and remotes present, any error messages
• Functionality: test if possible, especially tools, appliances and devices
• Completeness: compare against the description, check for listed accessories that are missing
• Serial numbers: record them and verify they match the notice

If you cannot inspect in person, ask the bailiff's office whether they can provide additional photos. Some items are sold in sealed lots — in that case, you buy completely blind. To check whether an item is worth reselling, use our guide on how to evaluate a deal.

For electronics testing guidance, see our page on testing used electronics. For legal risks around stolen goods, see avoiding buying stolen goods.

After you win: payment, collection and no warranty

Once the court confirms your winning bid (przybicie), you must pay the full price by 18:00 on the business day following the notice. Payment is made to the bailiff's account, details in the notice.

Collection is immediate. You must pick up the items right after payment. The bailiff does not arrange shipping or storage. Factor in transport costs and logistics before you bid.

There is no warranty (rękojmia). This is the most important rule for resellers. Under KPC art. 879, the buyer becomes owner free of all encumbrances and has no right to claim for defects. If you buy a laptop that fails the next day, or a tool missing a part, you have no recourse against the bailiff or the previous owner.

Is it worth it for a reseller? Max-bid checklist

Bailiff auctions can offer items below market value, but the no-warranty rule means you must build risk into your math. Use this checklist before you bid:

• Get the valuation amount from the notice
• Estimate resale price using comparable items on Vinted, OLX or Allegro Lokalnie
• Subtract marketplace selling fees (for example, say you budget 10% for fees)
• Subtract estimated transport and collection costs
• Subtract repair or cleaning costs if the item needs work
• Add a buffer for the no-warranty risk — if it breaks, you absorb the loss
• The remaining amount is your max bid. Do not exceed it.

If the result is negative or barely positive, the auction is not worth it. Move on.

For a tool that helps you calculate the maximum price to pay, use our max buy price calculator.

This channel works best for items you can inspect, resell quickly and absorb some loss on if something is wrong. Electronics, tools and furniture in decent condition are the most common resale candidates. Cars and vehicles require separate checking and registration — real estate auctions are out of scope for this page. If you are new to reselling in Poland, start with our reselling in Poland overview.

For other sourcing channels, see our page on house clearance sourcing.