The Russian Ministry of Construction has proposed a plan to reallocate unclaimed housing that was purchased with state funds to the rightful owners. The proposal is outlined in a draft law prepared by the department and featured in official coverage under the ministry’s announcements.
The focus of the proposal centers on apartments that were acquired for military needs and later became eligible for redistribution. The draft envisions transferring these dwellings to specific privileged categories of citizens. Among those singled out are veterans who served during the Great Patriotic War, victims of radiation incidents and cleanup workers, people with disabilities, and families raising children with disabilities. The aim is to align housing resources with those most in need while ensuring a fair distribution of limited housing stock.
In the explanatory note accompanying the legislation, the ministry notes that there are currently 82 such apartments across the Russian Federation. A significant share is concentrated in certain regions, with 27 located in the Sverdlovsk region, 18 in St. Petersburg, and 9 in the Pskov region. This geographic distribution is relevant for regional planning and for understanding how the redistribution could impact local housing markets and municipal budgets.
Analysts suggest that this mechanism could reduce the burden on regional budgets by easing the maintenance of housing that has remained unused or underutilized. By redirecting unclaimed units to families and individuals in need, authorities hope to improve the efficiency of housing stock management and enhance the overall effectiveness of public housing programs.
As the housing market in Russia continues to experience price pressure, observers note that prices may not stabilize quickly if wages do not keep pace with rising costs. Industry experts emphasize that without corresponding income growth, a larger portion of the population could face affordability challenges, potentially intensifying demand for publicly funded or subsidized housing programs. This context underscores why the proposed transfer scheme has attracted attention from policymakers, property professionals, and social advocates who monitor housing accessibility for military families and other prioritized groups.