Land for the construction of private homes in Russia could be provided free of charge on condition that a house is built within three years, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said. The authorities are currently considering the proposal, while the program’s terms and the list of participating regions have yet to be determined, RIA Real Estate reports.
The mechanism is not entirely new to Russia. Since 2016, the Far Eastern Hectare program has allowed people to obtain up to one hectare of land free of charge, with the option of subsequently registering ownership of the developed plot.
A similar system operates in Kazakhstan, where citizens are entitled to receive a 1000-sq.m. plot of land free of charge once for the construction of a home.
The main challenge for the proposed program will be the cost of providing roads and utilities. Experts point out that a free plot without electricity, gas, or proper access is unlikely to be attractive for residential construction.