Kazakhstan housing queue traps orphans: 43,000 wait as income rules block allocation
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Marina Kharchuk, a 27-year-old orphan from Pavlodar, was denied a two-room apartment after 18 years on the housing list because her family income exceeded the threshold. More than 43,000 adult orphans remain in the queue nationwide. The denial highlights a system where stable earnings can disqualify applicants from social housing.
Key Facts
- More than 43,000 adult orphans and children left without parental care are on the housing waiting list in Kazakhstan.
- Marina Kharchuk, 27, from Pavlodar, has been on the housing list since 2008 and was denied a two-room apartment on August 6, 2026.
- The family's combined monthly income of about 600,000 tenge exceeds the threshold of approximately 350,000 tenge set by Otbasy Bank.
- Since 2025, Otbasy Bank has managed the distribution of apartments for socially vulnerable groups, replacing the akimat's electronic queue system.
- The akimat offered Kharchuk only credit housing, which requires a 10% down payment, instead of rental housing.
The Denial
On August 6, 2026, Marina Kharchuk received a notification that she had been allocated a two-room apartment of 81 square meters. After confirming receipt and completing an inventory check, the system rejected her application due to income. Kharchuk, her husband, and their young daughter have a combined monthly income of about 600,000 tenge, while Otbasy Bank's threshold for a family of three is around 350,000 tenge. The family currently rents housing and pays for childcare, food, clothing, and loans.
Systemic Barriers
Kharchuk was placed on the housing list in 2008 by her sister, who took her from an orphanage and registered her with the akimat. At that time, income was not checked, and the queue was often moved backward, according to Kharchuk. Since 2025, Otbasy Bank has managed the distribution, and applicants no longer see their queue number—only the year of registration. Kharchuk learned about the new rules and the need for an inventory check through social media and the internet, not from official notifications.
Credit Housing Alternative
The akimat confirmed that Kharchuk cannot qualify for rental housing and offered only credit housing. Credit housing requires a 10% down payment, and the employment center can issue a certificate for that amount. Kharchuk said she wanted to participate in the credit program two years ago, but the akimat told her there was no point in paying a mortgage since she would soon receive an apartment. At that time, income was not mentioned as a barrier.
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Kazakhstan housing queue traps orphans: 43,000 wait as income rules block allocation
