Prime Minister Golob: National Housing Programme for the Construction of Public Rental Apartments as One of the Government’s Priorities

SLOVENIA, November 11 - In his address, Prime Minister Golob stated that this mandate has been characterised by a number of different developments, among them a major shift in housing legislation and in housing construction generally. "For the development of any country or region, it is essential to give young people a future — a future in which they can start their family in their place of birth, or in their home country. That is why the National Housing Programme for the construction of affordable public rental apartments has been one of this Government’s priorities," said Prime Minister Golob.

"We knew that it is not possible to build housing projects overnight. At the same time, we also knew that if we really want to develop this area, we must establish a systemic framework with stable and predictable financing. And that was our main priority," the Prime Minister emphasised. Although in appearance the process has proceeded more slowly than we would have liked, the Government first secured the legislative framework, and then followed up with the funding.

"In politics we often talk about priorities – yet the money is never found. We found it – and not just for one year, for one term, but also for the next ten years. We have secured funding of one billion euros, up to 100 million euros each year," the Prime Minister said. He added that housing construction is planned both in larger cities and in smaller towns.

The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction that, as part of the Government’s regional visit to Pomurje, he was able to view the construction site of the new Lendava Residential Neighbourhood, where 40 public rental apartments are being built, and that today construction is symbolically being launched in Lukovica. "I am pleased that the investments in smaller towns will enable young families to develop and live closer to their home and workplace," he said.

The Prime Minister stressed that a key factor in these projects is faster processing of building permits. "At the same time, we are working to enable substantially faster processing of building permits. We can already observe that during this mandate the number of building permits issued in the country has increased by more than 50 percent," said the Prime Minister. He added that a higher number of apartments on the market will ensure that young people will finally be able to access more favourable purchase offers, not merely the public rental housing.

"I look forward to the housing development in Lukovic welcoming – as the Mayor said – young people and young families suited to the character of the municipality and the local community in two years’ time. I also look forward to the inclusion of sheltered apartments for older people. And of course, it is my hope that we will see as many similar projects as possible elsewhere across Slovenia," concluded Prime Minister Robert Golob.
 
Let us recall: the Government has not only significantly increased investment in the construction of public rental housing, but has also established a long-term and predictable financing framework, which gives providers of public rental housing a clear signal and an appropriate basis for the planned and stable development of their projects.
 
Between 2023 and 2025, the Government allocated EUR 151 million from the state budget for the construction of public rental housing through the recapitalisation of the Housing Fund of the Republic of Slovenia. An additional EUR 100 million is planned in the budget for 2026.
 
At the same time, during this mandate, the Government adopted the necessary legislation to enable the effective and long-term implementation of an active housing policy: the Act on the Financing and Promotion of the Construction of Public Rental Housing. This Act provides up to EUR 100 million annually between 2025 and 2034 for the construction of public rental and public rental sheltered housing. The Government has not only significantly increased investment in the construction of public rental housing but has also ensured a long-term and predictable financing framework, giving public housing providers a clear signal and an appropriate basis for the planned and stable development of projects. Through the adoption of this Act, the Government has also established new forms and sources of financing, thereby providing additional funds for the construction of public rental housing and involving new stakeholders in its implementation. The Act also introduces an additional favourable lending facility through SID Bank.
 
In total, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia has thus secured up to EUR 1 billion in budgetary funds for housing construction until 2034.