Two Thousand Unfit Homes in Surabaya to Benefit from Government Renovation Programme

A total of 2,000 unfit homes in Surabaya are set to receive benefits from the government’s Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance (BSPS) programme in 2026. Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait stated during a visit to Tambaksari District on Tuesday that the quota was raised from the initial allocation of 1,096 units. ‘I have decided to increase the home renovation quota in Surabaya from 187 units in 2025 to 2,000 units for 2026,’ he said. The minister assured the public that the home improvement programme is completely free of charge and urged residents to report any instances of illegal levies through official channels. The assistance is specifically targeted at low-income communities (MBR), particularly those in deciles 1 to 4, to ensure the programme reaches the right beneficiaries. Under the latest regulations, applicants are no longer required to provide verified home ownership documents. Instead, residents only need to submit a statement confirming they are Indonesian citizens, occupy the sole home they have lived in for at least one year, belong to the income decile 1 to 4 group, and have not received home renovation aid in the past five years. In addition to simplifying the requirements, the government has expanded the scope of repairs. ‘Previously, repairs were limited to major structural damage. Now, even if just one component of the house is damaged, it can be fixed. The important thing is that people’s homes become more liveable,’ Minister Ara explained. One beneficiary, Asih, expressed her happiness that her house could be repaired by the government, as she was unable to afford the renovations due to economic limitations.