Russian government seeks early end to subsidized mortgages for IT workers, citing ‘limited budget funds’

Russian authorities are discussing ending the preferential mortgage program for IT specialists early, three sources told the Russian business news outlet RBC.Two of RBC’s sources said the program will end in December 2026. Another source said “the parameters and timing of early termination are being worked out.” A federal official said the matter remains under discussion and that no final decision has been made.A Digital Development Ministry representative said, “amid limited budget funds, funding for the program for the next period is being worked out.” He promised that the rates currently in effect for borrowers who have already taken out loans will remain unchanged for the full term of their loan agreements.The preferential mortgage program for IT workers launched in spring 2022. Employees of IT companies accredited by the Digital Development Ministry that use tax incentives were eligible to apply.The interest rate on the preferential mortgage initially did not exceed 5%, but authorities tightened the terms in 2024: the rate cap rose to 6%, and Moscow and St. Petersburg were excluded from the regions where the program applied. In cities with populations over a million, the maximum loan size fell from 18 million rubles to nine million rubles, and the salary threshold rose from 120,000 to 150,000 rubles. The Digital Development Ministry said at the time that the changes were driven in part by the program’s high burden on the budget. The government also announced plans to extend the program through 2030.At Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication.If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at [email protected].To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.