On November 7, the first low-rent apartment building in Jelgava, located at 54 Ganību Street, was officially opened. The building includes 58 apartments and is the first five-storey wooden-frame residential building in Latvia. Starting next week, SIA “Jelgavas īres nami” will begin signing rental agreements, and soon the new tenants – young professionals, families with children, and Jelgava residents registered in the municipal rental housing register – will be able to move in, following approval by the Municipal Housing Commission.
“This is a very important day for our city. At present, Jelgava faces a shortage of qualified workforce, and therefore such housing is essential for attracting new professionals and families so that the city can continue its economic development. I thank everyone involved in this project – the European Commission, the Ministry of Economics, Altum, and especially Jelgavas īres nami for taking the risk to implement it. I wish success in realizing further plans, and soon, two more rental houses will be built next to these two on Ganību Street,” said Jelgava City Council Chairman Mārtiņš Daģis.
The first of the two planned buildings has now been completed – a modern and energy-efficient five-storey residential building with fully finished apartments of various sizes, including plumbing, kitchen furniture, and appliances. The company Jelgavas īres nami is also constructing the second building, using the same modern technology – modular wooden constructions manufactured by ReBalt Modular Systems in Tukums. The second building is expected to be completed in spring, adding another 58 rental apartments for Jelgava residents.
During the opening ceremony, six rowan trees – symbols of peace and family happiness – were planted in the courtyard, and the first tenants, the Ļeontjevs family, young specialists from Jelgava who will rent a three-room apartment with a balcony on the third floor, were specially welcomed.
So far, 55 people have been granted the opportunity to rent apartments in the first building, meaning demand is high and only a few two-room apartments may still be available. Meanwhile, 53 residents have already registered for apartments in the second building through the city’s rental housing register.
“The high demand proves that the rental housing construction program in Latvia is crucial. When municipalities can provide a high-quality living environment, economically active people are willing to move to the regions. We have even received interest from families from Riga who are ready to become residents of Jelgava,” emphasized Jānis Lagzdiņš, Board Member of Jelgavas īres nami, noting that this confirms the importance of continuing rental housing construction in the regions.
Currently, Jelgavas īres nami has submitted a new project proposal to build two additional rental houses in Jelgava under this program. If approved, the company plans to continue development on Ganību Street by constructing two more buildings, each with 59 rental apartments.
“The low-rent housing program is a major contribution to strengthening and developing Latvia’s regions. With the support of the EU Recovery Fund and the national government, Jelgava now has a modern building that will provide a stable foundation for many families. The project brings both immediate benefits to local residents and long-term positive effects – attracting workforce and stimulating regional economic activity. Housing affordability is a challenge across Europe, so it is expected that the European Commission will continue addressing this issue in the future. At the same time, we must keep improving the efficiency of existing buildings through insulation and renovation projects,” stressed Andris Kužnieks, Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia, during the opening ceremony.
The apartments are rented to households registered in the municipal queue according to the local regulation “On the Procedure for Renting Apartments in Low-Rent Residential Buildings in Jelgava”, with priority given to attracting qualified specialists and families who previously could not register for municipal rental housing.
According to the Ministry of Economics, this year apartments are offered to households whose gross average monthly income in the previous tax year does not exceed the following limits at the time of allocation:
– €1,681 for a one-room apartment;
– €2,896 for a two-room apartment;
– €4,433 for a three-room or larger apartment (available for households of at least two people).
More information about the rental procedure, eligibility criteria, and registration in the municipal rental housing register, as well as details about the new buildings, is available at Jelgava.lv.
For the construction of the two rental houses, Jelgavas īres nami received €10.31 million in financing from the Development Finance Institution Altum, co-funded by the EU Recovery Fund, while the total project cost amounts to €13.13 million. This program provides loans for the construction of rental housing in Latvia’s regions, aiming to improve housing affordability at accessible rental prices. The state continues implementing the program, allocating an additional €45 million for its continuation this year.
