Kazakhstan's Industry Ministry approves housing rules counting children's gender from Sept 14
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Kazakhstan's Industry Ministry has approved new state housing rules that will take effect on 14 September and will consider family composition and children's gender alongside floor area. Under the rules, a four-person family with two same-sex children will be offered a two-room apartment, while opposite-sex children will make the family eligible for a three-room apartment.
Key Facts
- From 14 September, state housing in Kazakhstan will be allocated with consideration of family composition and children's gender, not just floor area.
- A family of four with two same-sex children will be offered a two-room apartment, while one with opposite-sex children will be offered a three-room apartment.
- If no apartment with the required number of rooms is available, the family may be offered a unit with fewer rooms, and parents who refuse will keep their place in the queue.
- The current allocation standard is 15 to 18 square metres per person.
- A commission approved housing for five young scientists in Astana and Almaty, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education reported.
The New Allocation Rules
From 14 September, state housing applicants in Kazakhstan will have their family composition and children's gender considered alongside floor area. The current system allocates 15 to 18 square metres per person, but the new rules add the required number of rooms as a key criterion. Assem Alzhanova, head of housing relations at the Ministry of Industry and Construction, said a four-person family with two same-sex children will receive a two-room apartment, while opposite-sex children will make the family eligible for a three-room apartment. If no apartment with the required number of rooms is available, the family may be offered a unit with fewer rooms, and parents who refuse will keep their place in the queue. Otbasy Bank said the new approach lets queue applicants choose housing according to their family's actual need.
Rationale and Benefits
Psychologists say a child's own room supports personal boundaries, independence and a sense of safety. Psychologist Akmaral Abdikerimova said every family member should understand and respect the personal boundaries of others. Previously, large families could not always find apartments larger than 90 to 100 square metres, according to Otbasy Bank.
Young Scientists Housing
A commission meeting approved housing for five young scientists in Astana and Almaty, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education reported. The ministry said the phased provision of housing aims to improve social conditions and retain young researchers. A preferential lending programme for young scientists covering 2023 to 2027 is being implemented under a 19 October 2023 cooperation agreement between the ministry and Otbasy Bank.
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Kazakhstan's Industry Ministry approves housing rules counting children's gender from Sept 14
