Housing escrow account (mieszkaniowy rachunek powierniczy)

A special bank account into which you pay the money for a flat bought from a developer. The bank that holds the account controls when and how much the developer can withdraw from it.

With an open account, the bank pays funds to the developer after the completion of successive construction stages, which it checks itself. With a closed account, the developer receives the money only after ownership of the unit has been transferred to you — this option is safer for the buyer.