Poland’s Development Ministry has unveiled plans for a new mortgage subsidy scheme aimed at first-time homebuyers. It hopes to launch the programme early next year.
However, two other ministries, the central bank and trade unions have expressed concern that the scheme could put further upward pressure on housing prices, which are already rising at the fastest pace in Europe, with annual growth of 18% in the first quarter of this year.
Those rises have been in part ascribed to a popular previous subsidy programme for first-time buyers introduced last year under the former Law and Justice (PiS) government.
That scheme finished in January, but the new government, which took office in December 2023, pledged to launch its own, new version. On July 16, the Development Ministry presented the latest version of draft legislation outlining the terms of its proposed scheme.
It will be primarily open to first-time buyers, with the one exception being households with at least three children, who will be eligible for the subsidies even if they already own a property
Single people will be able to participate if they are under 35. There will be no age restriction for households containing at least two people. A couple will not have to be married to benefit from the programme. (Notes from Poland)