Meeting to discuss prospects for housing construction and improving rental housing efficiency

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko convened a meeting on 22 September to discuss the prospects for housing construction and improving the efficiency of rental housing.

"Today, 542,000 families, half a million, are registered in the country as needing improved housing conditions. All of them hope to receive the keys to a house or apartment as soon as possible," the head of state said. At the same time, this also concerns those who have housing but may need additional square meters.

In this connection, the President recalled the tasks set for the five-year period. The emphasis is shifting towards rental housing, which should become the main instrument for resolving the housing issue and staffing tasks. "Rental housing is provided by an enterprise or another authority, if that is stipulated. This is economically sound and convenient for people, especially young professionals," Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

The head of state recalled that in 2026-2030 "plans are in place to build 6.5 million square meters of housing with state support, of which 5 million will be rental." "Our priorities haven't changed: the cost per meter must not exceed the average monthly salary, and construction deadlines must comply with the regulations. Regarding quality, we must make sure that people can just move into their new house or apartment and live there right away," the Belarusian leader said.

At the same time, supervisory authorities note systemic shortcomings in construction planning and financing, and also in the subsequent use of rental housing. The President turned to the most pressing issues.

On rental housing construction linked to workplaces

Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that new apartments are built not to meet real demand but to fulfil assigned targets. "A catastrophe, isn't it? At the same time, the regions sometimes complain that not only is there no need for construction, but there is also no financing for it. It turns out that Grodno Oblast or Mogilev Oblast does not need housing, but someone is imposing the construction of this housing on them," he said.

"People were promised apartments tied to workplaces. That is probably what rental housing is all about," the President emphasized.

Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed to positive examples of this approach. They exist in Petrikov (Belaruskali), Rudensk (BNBC), Turov (Turov Dairy Plant), Vitebsk (Vitebsk Broiler Factory) and a number of other settlements.

He also noted that with the entry into force of Decree No. 344 "On Subsidizing Legal Entities in the Construction or Acquisition of Residential Premises" on 1 January 2025, the process became more active. "Some enterprises have started building separate apartments for their workers. But there are few of them too: 153 in 2025. What do we need to resolve so that this practice becomes more widespread?" the President posed the question to the participants of the meeting.

The head of state outlined some steps needed to address these issues. This concerns creating a transparent system for recording citizens who wish to receive rental housing, so as to build in a targeted way. "Suppose a person works at MAZ, is registered, is ready to receive rental housing and live there. We must see such people; it is important for us," he said.

Another step is building housing with an emphasis on small settlements and in exactly the quantity needed for the development of the oblast's economy. Moreover, as Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized, before laying the foundation of any multi-apartment building, it is necessary to clearly determine the sources of financing: "Before starting to do anything, you need to see where the money is coming from."

He also drew attention to the need for broader involvement of real-sector enterprises, using their own and borrowed resources to address the housing issues of their employees. "This is not only budget money. The enterprise must also invest its own money," the head of state added.

On the issue of vacant rental apartments

"According to the reports I receive, the number of vacant rental apartments is growing. Strangely, how so? Currently, there are more than 17,000 housing units on the list of unclaimed properties. We built housing, and nobody needs it?" the head of state outlined the problem. "Many apartments have been sitting empty for more than a year. Where is the businesslike approach?"

The President noted that previously built housing often simply goes without repairs. As a result, to date, local authorities have declared nearly 6,000 unoccupied housing units unfit for habitation and plan to demolish them.

Commenting on the matter, Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin clarified that the issue of housing sitting empty or falling into disrepair mostly does not affect new properties built with state budget funds. Instead, it concerns rental housing that was classified as such in 2016, having previously been corporate or institutional housing that citizens did not privatize. According to him, it is primarily this type of housing, located in rural areas, that remains unclaimed.

"Situations vary. Sometimes these old properties might indeed need to be demolished, but some of them could be repaired, fixed up properly, or sold," the President pointed out.

On promptly filling new rental properties

Some time ago, issues arose regarding the occupancy of new rental housing. In response, the President signed Decree No. 388, which came into force on 1 January 2026. The decree shortens the administrative procedures required for citizens to move in. It caps the timeframe for occupying subsidized rental apartments at 30 working days from the date the building's commissioning certificate is approved. Previously, this process could take up to 200 days.

"Not so long ago, following complaints, we decided to minimize the time it takes to occupy new buildings. Local authorities must take full control of this process. Newly built apartments must not sit empty," Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized. "God forbid anyone complains to me again about newly built housing sitting empty."

On pricing and payment discipline for rental housing

Aleksandr Lukashenko also raised the issue of overdue rent and utility debts.

"The pricing and payment discipline for rental properties are baffling. In some cases, the rent in regional centers is purely symbolic, such as Br30 a month for a two-bedroom apartment," the head of state noted.

The President a stark contradiction in this situation: overdue rent and utility debts nationwide have surpassed Br20 million, yet debtors continue to occupy the rented properties for years. "It costs mere pennies, and they can't even pay that," the head of state said, expressing his indignation.

"Of course, circumstances vary. Sometimes people hit a rough patch or find themselves in a difficult situation, and perhaps they need help. But we cannot go on helping them for years," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

"The facts and total debt figures recorded by the State Control Committee show that there is a systemic flaw here that needs to be fixed," the President stated.

On the slowdown in housing commissioning

The President noted that, besides rental housing, the country continues to build state-supported, commercial and individual housing.

"All the decisions that the government and the oblast executive committees asked for on these issues have been taken. As I am being told, the pace of housing commissioning in the first half of this year has slowed. How can this be explained?" the head of state asked.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that complaints from people sometimes appear in the media and on social networks about the incompetence of local authorities, bureaucratic delays by banks in granting housing loans, and similar issues.

"Such situations must not happen! And here the government must get fully involved and, if you will pardon the bluntness, start tearing off arms and legs for this sort of thing, no matter whether it is banks or bureaucrats," the President demanded.