Information courtesy of The Ministry of Immigrant Absorption

Housing

• The three categories of persons entitled to housing assistance

Mortgages

Rent Assistance

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Housing

A returning resident's eligibility for housing is determined by the Ministry of Construction and Housing using the criteria applicable to all Israeli citizens.

A returning resident may check his eligibility for housing assistance under the assistance programs run by the Ministry of Construction and Housing.

Eligibility check applications should be made in Israel at mortgage banks. Outside Israel, applications should be addressed to the Settlement Department of the Ministry of Construction and Housing. Housing assistance application forms are available at Israel Consulates.

Returning residents are entitled to the same government assistance as other Israelis.

There are three categories of persons entitled to housing assistance

• A. Israelis of long standing or new immigrants not owning an apartment.

  Any person who does not and has not owned an apartment, in whole or in part, severally and/or jointly with a spouse, is deemed to be a non-owner. Assistance to non-owners is available to young couples, established couples, individuals and single-parent families, based on the criteria in effect with the Ministry of Construction and Housing.

• B. An apartment owners experiencing housing distress (such as over-crowding etc.), the owner of a non-available apartment (whose apartment is occupied by parents or grandparents having no other apartment) and part-owners of an apartment.

• C. Apartment owners wishing to purchase/extend an apartment in population centres eligible for preferential assistance (development towns and neighbourhoods undergoing rehabilitation).

Persons seeking housing assistance while still abroad, must have their application signed by an Israeli Consul who has obtained proof of the identity of the couple signing the application, has cautioned them that the information provided by them will be checked and that they are liable to be taken to court if that information proves to be incorrect. The Consul must confirm that the applicant/s signed the form in his presence.

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Mortgages

The size of a mortgage depends on marital status, number of children, non-ownership of an apartment, ownership of an apartment and so forth. Mortgages are linked to the consumer price index. They are given for long periods of up to 28 years, and include a subsidy. Young couples, applicants rating a high number of "points" and single parent families are eligible for mortgages on preferential terms.

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Rent Assistance

Parties eligible for rent subsidy are:

• Young couples (rating high points, for a period not exceeding 36 months).

• Single parent families (for a period not exceeding 36 months).

• Families and elderly individuals subsisting solely on subsistence grants from the National Insurance Institute may check with the mortgage banks whether they are eligible for rent assistance.

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