The initiative, announced on Thursday by Development Minister Krzysztof Paszyk, prioritizes support for purchasing existing homes rather than new developments.
Speaking at a press conference, Paszyk said that no funds from the program—called "Key to an Apartment"—would go to real estate developers.
Instead, the strategy focuses on expanding social and municipal housing and assisting first-time buyers in acquiring properties from the secondary market.
The program consists of two main components.
The first is an expansion of social and municipal housing. In 2025, the government plans to allocate PLN 2.5 billion (about USD 630 million) for this purpose, which is expected to fund up to 15,000 new or renovated municipal apartments.
The money will go not only toward new construction but also toward refurbishing and modernizing existing housing.
Paszyk said funding levels will increase in subsequent years.
The second part of the program supports private homeownership in areas where social housing is unavailable.
Financial assistance will be offered for purchasing homes from the secondary market, as well as for buying land and building homes through self-managed construction.
However, buyers must adhere to price limits: PLN 10,000 per square meter nationwide and up to PLN 11,000 in major cities such as Warsaw, Gdańsk, Kraków, Poznań and Wrocław.
Municipalities will have the authority to adjust these limits based on local conditions. These amounts are appropriate for the current level of the cost of materials and labor.
To qualify for financial aid, applicants must meet specific income criteria and cannot own or have previously owned a home.
Paszyk told reporters that safeguards are in place to prevent the program from driving up property prices.
He also stated that only homes that have been in use for at least five years, with the seller having owned them for at least three years, will be eligible.
This measure is intended to deter speculative investors who buy and quickly resell properties for profit.
A special exception to the focus on the secondary market is a new initiative called "First Keys Investments," which will allow housing cooperatives and social housing organizations to sell newly built apartments under government support.
To keep these homes affordable, profit margins will be capped at 25 percent.
Developers participating in this effort must also commit to constructing affordable rental housing as part of their projects.
This reflects a trend in some European countries toward policy-led development to drive inclusive local housing initiatives, rather than relying solely on market-oriented approaches.
The program also includes measures to assist seniors and people with disabilities. Older residents will be given priority access to municipal housing adapted to their needs.
Additionally, seniors will have the option to lease their private apartments to the local government in exchange for the right to rent a more suitable municipal unit.
Another initiative under the plan provides funding for student housing, where the government will cover up to 80 percent of the costs for constructing or renovating university dorms.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, polsatnews.pl