Breakthrough! The 2026 Subsidized Apartment Policy Paves the Way for Affordable Housing for the Community

Jakarta – The government is finalizing new regulations regarding subsidized apartments (rusun) to accelerate the provision of adequate housing for low-income communities (MBR). This policy is designed to be more inclusive, involving the entire housing ecosystem, from banks and developers to government institutions.

The Minister of Housing and Settlements (PKP), Maruarar Sirait, emphasized that the draft Ministerial Decree (Kepmen PKP) on subsidized low-cost apartments was not a unilateral process. The government actively sought input from various stakeholders, including Danantara and the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), to ensure a well-targeted and equitable policy.

“I don’t want to be a minister who doesn’t listen to the voice of the ecosystem. We must position the people as subjects, not objects, in every public policy,” he said.

In the draft policy, the government has prepared several breakthroughs to increase access to vertical housing, including a financing tenor scheme of up to 30 years with a target interest rate of 6 percent.

Significant changes have also been made to the physical aspects of the buildings. The size of subsidized apartment units, which previously ranged from 21–36 square meters, will be expanded to a maximum of 45 square meters. This size will allow for two to three bedrooms, making them more suitable for families.

The Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, assessed that this policy will improve the quality of housing while addressing the challenge of the still high housing backlog, particularly in urban areas, which is recorded as being three times larger than in rural areas.

“Expanding the area of ​​subsidized flats to 45 square meters will improve the suitability of housing,” explained Amalia.

In addition to physical development and financing schemes, the government is also focusing on post-occupancy living costs. Evaluation of Environmental Management Fees (IPL), electricity, and water tariffs is crucial to ensure residents’ safety.

“We can’t just talk from above. We have to get down to the ground and listen directly to the needs of the people so that the policies we adopt are truly on target,” he explained.

As an initial step in implementation, the government, through BP Tapera, is targeting the realization of contracts for around 10,000 subsidized flats by 2026, with a focus on development in densely populated urban areas.

This policy received a positive response from the public. Erlan Kalo, a representative of the Apartment Residents Association, stated that the government’s approach was considered more humane and pro-resident.

“We feel humanized. In terms of pricing and policies, residents are very happy with this policy direction,” he concluded.