We are a family-friendly nation, whatever they say in Brussels, whatever the trend in Europe.

The government is relaunching the home renovation subsidy, which means financial security and empowerment for families, the Minister of Culture and Innovation announced at a press conference in Budapest on Monday.

Balázs Hankó said that the home renovation subsidy was also a successful scheme in recent years. A social consultation was launched on the rules for the support.

He reminded: some questions of the national consultation also apply to housing support, such as the question about the expansion of dormitories and the use of the SZÉP card.

Balázs Hankó also drew attention to the fact that in recent years, many new apartments have been built or renovated with the help of the family home building discount (csok). Hungarian families became richer with 250,000 homes in the framework of Csok Plus, he emphasized.

"We are a family-friendly country, a family-friendly nation," he emphasized, adding that the government stands by traditional families, "whatever they say in Brussels, whatever the trend in Europe."

In next year's budget, an "unprecedented amount will be allocated to support families", the minister insisted. He said that the government provides HUF 3,754 billion to families, which is HUF 447 billion more than the previous year and four times the 2010 subsidies.

Zsófia Koncz, the Secretary of State responsible for families at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (KIM), explained the details of the new rural home renovation program in relation to housing subsidies. He emphasized that the government is also supporting Hungarian families and the local economy, the local construction industry, in accordance with the new economic policy action plan.

He emphasized that the support will mean targeted help in settlements with less than five thousand people from January 1, 2025. This means a total of 2,887 settlements, which is 91 percent of the settlements in Hungary. He said that according to the government's calculations, more than a hundred thousand families will be able to take advantage of the new rural home renovation program.

Zsófia Koncz said that the support can be applied for outdoor or indoor home renovations, and the application conditions are very similar to the previous program. Families whose children are under 25 can apply. In case of pregnancy, the support can be applied for from the 12th week.

He said that the non-refundable home renovation subsidy can be claimed for 50 percent of the labor and material costs, but no more than HUF three million. In addition, a state-supported, mortgage-based credit scheme can be used, with a maximum value of HUF six million. The families will receive the amounts in post-financing, he added.

An important change is that, while previously one year of prior residence was a condition for the application, in the new program five years of subsequent residence must be completed, but at the time of application, you must already live in the property to be renovated, emphasized the state secretary.

He also drew attention to the change that the application will not have to be submitted at the government offices, but at the territorial bodies of the Hungarian State Treasury (MÁK) electronically or by post, and it is also possible to do it in person.

Zsófia Koncz said that, according to the plans, applications can be submitted from January 1, 2025 until June 30, 2026.

MTI

Cover image source: MTI/Sándor Ujvári