The government has changed the terms of the eHouse programme in favour of developers

8 October 06:28

The Cabinet of Ministers has changed the requirements for housing that can be purchased under the eOselya mortgage programme, banning most categories of borrowers from taking out loans to buy apartments in buildings that are more than 3 years old. The government made the decision at a meeting, Komersant UkrainianKomersant Ukrainian reports, citing the press service of the Ministry of Economy.

From now on, most citizens will only be able to take out a concessional mortgage loan under the programme for new or commissioned housing no more than three years ago.

Currently, a concessional mortgage can be taken out for apartments in Kyiv or regional centres in houses less than 10 years old, an option currently reserved only for IDPs.

“The new requirements for the age of real estate will help develop the construction and related industries. We have provided internally displaced persons with the opportunity to buy housing under the programme that is less than 10 years old. This opportunity is also provided for veterans and their families, military personnel, law enforcement officers, doctors, teachers and scientists in the regions most affected by the war and lacking new housing – Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions,” said Deputy Minister of Economy Andriy Teliupa.

What kind of housing can be purchased

The updated rules of “eHouse” provide for the possibility to purchase housing under the programme:

  • under the age of 10: IDPs and their family members, provided that they take out a mortgage in the interests of IDPs – in all regions; military personnel and law enforcement officers, doctors, teachers, scientists, veterans and family members, etc. in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson regions;
  • under the age of three: military personnel and law enforcement officers, doctors, teachers, scientists, veterans and family members in other regions. All other citizens will be able to purchase apartments and houses under three years old throughout the country.

At the same time, the government’s decision stipulates that IDPs will not be able to participate in the eHouse programme if they or their family members have already received a preferential mortgage at the expense of a grant from the KfW.

The decision will come into force 30 days after its publication, and the regulations on housing mortgages for IDPs will come into force on 18 December.

As a reminder, the government programme eHouse was launched in October 2022. In 2023, it was expanded. Ukrainians who do not own their own housing, veterans and internally displaced persons can take out loans at 7%.

The conditions for participation in eHouse for military personnel, security forces, doctors, teachers and scientists remain unchanged. They can get a preferential mortgage at 3% per annum.

What is known about the eHouse programme?

The new housing loan programme “eOselya” has simplified terms and conditions and an interest rate of 3% for privileged categories and 7% for the rest.

Ukrainians can take out a preferential mortgage with a 3% interest rate:

  • not younger than 18 years and not older than 70 years as of the maturity date;
  • belonging to one of the privileged categories: military personnel, law enforcement officers, teachers, doctors, educators and scientists and their family members;
  • from 1 August, also detectives and senior detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, rank-and-file and senior staff of the State Bureau of Investigation, detectives and senior staff of the Bureau of Economic Security and their family members;
  • do not own housing; or have housing of less than 52.5 m² 21 m² for each additional family member; or own housing located in the area of hostilities or in the temporarily occupied territory;
  • do not participate in other existing state housing programmes;
  • are solvent;
  • are not on the sanctions lists.

According to the government’s decision of 4 July 2023, military and security personnel who were injured during combat missions and received disability groups I-II and lost their positions retain the right to a 3% concessional mortgage.

Дзвенислава Карплюк
Editor