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Over 500,000 people own apartment in Minsk, vice premier says

More than 500,000 people own an apartment in Minsk, Deputy Prime Minister Anatol Kalinin told reporters on February 14.

"As many as 55,000 own two apartments each, 5,500 own three apartments, 742 own four apartments, 170 own five apartments and 138 own six apartments and more. The construction of housing, especially of that subsidized by the government, has become a business for many," the deputy prime minister said.

Most of the apartments in government-subsidized houses are empty, which is evidence that the people who have bought them were not actually in need of better housing conditions, according to Mr. Kalinin.

The deputy prime minister promised that housing loans would become more affordable to people on housing waiting lists in a year's time.

Local authorities will review housing waiting lists before February 17 to remove people ineligible for low-interest loans and government-subsidized housing from them, he said. //BelaPAN