Budget deficit is no excuse for depriving orphans of housing benefits

The Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation clarified that the lack of budgetary funds is not a legitimate reason for refusing orphans and those left without parental care in assigning payments for the purchase of housing. This rule applies even if the recipient is 23 years of age.

This legal position was included in the review of judicial practice compiled by the highest instance. The document contains 13 key provisions designed to help lower courts in resolving disputes related to the social protection of this category of citizens. The purpose of the review is to unify approaches to resolving such cases and to stop unreasonable refusals motivated by lack of funding.

Experts note that this decision of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation strengthens the guarantees of housing rights of orphans. The State's obligation to provide them with housing is not nullified by temporary financial difficulties. The courts must now take into account that the budget deficit does not cancel the statutory obligations to socially vulnerable groups.

The new explanations of the Supreme Court will be actively applied in judicial practice throughout the country, contributing to the protection of the interests of orphans in proceedings on the provision of social support measures.

Earlier it became known that since the beginning of this year, 54 residents of Karelia, belonging to the category of orphans, received preferential housing. Of these, 37 people found apartments in a specialized housing fund under lease agreements, 16 used a lump sum payment for the purchase of housing, and one person was provided with housing from the municipal fund under a social lease agreement.

At the initiative of the prosecutor's office, a regional law was adopted aimed at supporting orphans. It obliges developers implementing large-scale investment projects to allocate 10% of residential premises in new buildings for subsequent provision to orphans and children who have lost parental care.