ZAGREB, 14 Nov (Hina) - The aim of the Affordable Rental Programme, adopted by the Croatian government, is to activate and make it easier to put existing vacant housing units into use.
"One of the government's key policies is to address housing issues in a long-term and stable way," Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said at the start of the session, recalling that the government had adopted the National Housing Policy Plan until 2030, which sets out three main objectives: affordable housing, sustainable housing, and ensuring space is used for housing purposes.
Plenković emphasised that the Affordable Housing Programme will make it easier to put many empty properties into use.
"Landlords will receive appropriate rent, more quickly and with less effort in managing their properties, while young people will be able to rent homes at prices affordable in relation to their income," he said.
The programme was also introduced at the session with a short promotional film.
Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Branko Bačić noted that there are around 600,000 vacant housing units in Croatia, while at the same time there is a shortage of 236,000 units.
"The programme aims to activate vacant and unregulated state-owned housing units -- around 1,000 in total," Bačić said, adding that the activation of around 300 such apartments is currently in preparation.
Activation of privately-owned apartments is also planned.
The programme outlines procedures for public calls for property owners and tenants, a points system for participation, a list of documents applicants must submit to the public authority, how priority lists will be determined and implemented, and how locally affordable rent will be calculated, among other details.
The programme will be implemented by the Agency for Real Estate Transactions and Brokerage (APN).
Bačić emphasised that the agency will manage the property on behalf of the owner throughout the rental period. The owner will immediately receive 60% of the total rent for the rental period, with the remaining 40% paid halfway through the rental term.
Tenants will pay affordable rent, while the difference between the locally affordable rent and the median rent for a given unit will be covered by the state budget.
In this way, with compensation to owners, properties which have been vacant for years would be available for rent to citizens who cannot solve their housing situation on the real estate market.
