Soon the first contracts for the Affordable Lease Program, published list

The Croatian Agency for Legal Promotion and Mediation of Real Estate (APN) has released the final list of applicants who have been selected under the Affordable Rental Program. The list was announced following the processing of all appeals, which totaled 98, with 76 rejected and 22 accepted, four of which were partially approved. This marks the beginning of the next phase in the program, during which agreements will be signed and tenants moved into their assigned properties. According to APN, the final list was made public after all objections had been reviewed. A total of 1,315 applications were received, with 1,103 being approved and 195 rejected. Additionally, 17 applicants withdrew from the program before the final decision was reached. In the coming week, the process of matching tenants with suitable properties will begin. Under the program, each tenant will be offered a property within the local self-governance unit they selected, provided such properties are available. If multiple properties meet the criteria, the one closest to the applicant’s place of residence will be prioritized. For individual applicants, a minimum living space of 35 square meters is considered appropriate, while additional 10 square meters per family member will be allocated. Tenants will pay a subsidized rent, with the combined amount of rent and management fees not exceeding 30% of their monthly household income. For example, a single person receiving a 41-square-meter property with a monthly income of 1,200 euros would pay approximately 257.50 euros per month. A five-member family with a monthly income of 2,300 euros and a 84-square-meter property would pay around 480 euros per month. Landlords will receive 60% of the annual rental value upon signing the agreement, with the remaining portion paid after half the lease period ends. Landlords can choose to hand over their property to APN for management for a period ranging from three to ten years. Calculations for tenants apply to properties regardless of location or district within cities, while landlords will be compensated based on median prices set for specific local self-governance units, including the City of Zagreb for certain cadastral areas. Properties that remain unassigned in this round of the public call will continue to be listed in the database. Applicants who did not receive a property in this round will stay on the waiting list for the next public call. Jelena Boku, a spokesperson for APN, noted that some tenants could already be receiving keys by the end of the month, while landlords may see funds transferred to their accounts. She emphasized that the program is just beginning and that more steps are planned. In addition to private properties, eight renovated state-owned apartments are included in the program, five in Pula and three in Zadar. APN reminded that currently, 329 state-owned apartments are undergoing renovation for use by protected tenants and participants in the affordable rental program. Željko Ulhir, state secretary at the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and State Property, stated that efforts are expected to intensify in building affordable housing, including the construction and reconstruction of single-family homes, with the state supporting these initiatives through various means. These efforts are part of a broader initiative aimed at addressing affordable housing needs across Croatia. These apartments are located in over fifty cities throughout Croatia, with the largest number found in Zagreb, Osijek, and Rijeka. Of the total 329 apartments, 99 have already been completed, 42 are currently under renovation, and others are in various stages of development. The program represents a significant step toward ensuring accessible housing options for residents, particularly those with limited financial resources.