TIRANA, Sept 22 /ATA/ Minister Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj on Tuesday held a meeting with representatives of the Builders’ Association and the real estate sector, as part of efforts to reform housing policies and expand affordable housing schemes.
Minister Ibrahimaj stated that the revision of housing policies is driven by the need to respond to market developments and rising prices, particularly in the country’s main cities.
She noted that the new housing policy aims to extend beyond vulnerable categories, encompassing other social groups that are struggling with the burden of housing costs.
Ibrahimaj emphasised that the policy change stems both from market needs and rising prices, particularly in major urban centres, while also drawing on models from other countries where housing policies extend beyond vulnerable groups to include wider social categories requiring support.
The Minister noted that over the past year the Ministry of Economy and Innovation has analysed European housing programmes and, drawing on models applied in various countries, prepared proposals for reform. These cover both the rollout of new housing products and the institutional architecture of the National Housing Agency (AZHT) that will support their implementation. Before finalising the legal framework, the Ministry has launched consultations with market actors to assess the concrete housing supply that could be included in the new affordable housing schemes.
“Before finalising the draft legal framework, we wanted to discuss it with you in order to analyse the availability of the housing products we aim to develop,” the Minister said.
One of the new products envisages support for the purchase of apartments through bank loans, with subsidised interest rates. For apartments valued up to €60,000, beneficiaries will receive loans at 0% interest rate. For apartments priced above €60,000, beneficiaries will pay interest rate of up to 3%, with any rate above that level subsidised by the state.
Regarding apartments priced up to €60,000, the Minister noted that preliminary consultations with the Builders’ Association confirmed the availability of small‑sized units at suitable prices in the outskirts of Tirana.
“There has also been debate over whether such apartments are available in Tirana. In fact, we presented this proposal following discussions with the Builders’ Association, which provided assurances that in the outskirts of Tirana there are small‑sized apartments offered at low prices,” Ibrahimaj said.
According to the Minister, the reform also provides support for the purchase of apartments valued above €60,000. The purchase will be covered in full through bank loans, while the state will subsidise the portion of the interest rate exceeding 3%. The maximum value of eligible apartments is still under discussion, with the current orientation set at around €200,000. This scheme is intended for employees at the start of their careers, as well as for young couples and families.
Ibrahimaj said the maximum limit will be set at around €200,000 and is intended for a different category — employees at the start of their careers whom the government seeks to support. The new policy will also include rent subsidies for professionals and young families. Under the proposal, rents will be capped at €500, with the government covering half of that amount.
She said the government intends to launch a rent‑subsidy policy, under which monthly rents will be capped at €500 and half of that amount will be covered by the state, targeting professionals and young families. Minister Ibrahimaj added that the aim is to open these schemes in November, following completion of the necessary legal amendments and bylaws.
From next year, the reform foresees a mixed‑use housing model with 30% of units for social housing, 40% for affordable housing for the middle class, and 30% for the free market, aimed at avoiding social concentration. The Territorial Development Agency will be restructured to play a fuller role in implementing housing policies and integrating them with spatial planning.
/sm/
