Government suggests 40-year installment plan for privatization of apartments

MINSK, 5 June (BelTA) - A scheme suggesting 40-year installment payments for the privatization of apartments in Belarus was discussed at a meeting to discuss housing construction on 4 June, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich reported that there are many non-privatized apartments in Belarus. A draft decree reads that after the document has entered into force citizens will have six months to begin privatization of their apartments. Otherwise the apartments will acquire the status of rented housing. People will be able to use the Zhiliye cheques for privatization. “The newer a house is, the more it costs. For example, in Frunzensky District of Minsk the cost of privatization of a two-room apartment that holds typical consumer properties will be from Br35 million in the house constructed in 1964, and up to Br142 million in the house erected in 1994,” the Prime Minister said.

The document suggests a down payment of 10% of the total sum. The rest can be paid by installments in the course of 40 years.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko approved the plan.

The 4 June meeting also discussed the possibility to preserve some part of service housing instead of turning it into rented housing. However, Alexander Lukashenko made it clear that no exceptions can be made in this issue: “Let us agree that we are not going to have any service housing. The principled point is that the state should not bear the burden of financing the construction and maintenance of housing. Currently we have lots of opportunities to find the way out of this situation.”