Hashim Djojohadikusumo: Govt Still Reviewing Plan to Downsize Subsidized Houses to 18sqm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hashim Djojohadikusumo, head of the Housing Task Force, stated that the proposal to reduce the size of subsidized housing to 18 square meters is still under review. He emphasized that the idea is not yet finalized and remains a concept under discussion.

"As I understand it, the 18-square-meter subsidized housing size is still being studied. I was only recently informed about this idea," Hashim told reporters at the Ritz Carlton in Kuningan, Jakarta, on Thursday, June 26.

Hashim noted that, based on existing standards, the minimum size for a residential unit is 36 square meters. Therefore, he said, any decision to change the size of subsidized housing cannot be made unilaterally by the government.

He added that discussions would involve PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk. (BTN), the state-owned bank responsible for distributing Housing Financing Liquidity Facilities. "Generally, the standard size will likely be around 40 square meters, with some units at 60 square meters and others at 36 square meters, which is the standard," he explained.

The plan to build 18-square-meter subsidized housing was proposed by Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait in response to limited land availability in urban areas. According to the draft of Ministerial Decree No. /KPTS/M/2025, the minimum land size would be reduced to 25 square meters, with a minimum building size of 18 square meters.

Maruarar Sirait clarified that the draft regulation aims to encourage the development of subsidized housing in urban areas. However, he stressed that no final decision has been made regarding the size of subsidized housing. "We haven't decided anything yet," he said on Tuesday, June 17.

Yayat Supriatna, a lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at Trisakti University, criticized the 18-square-meter housing proposal, arguing it is inadequate. While the minimum space requirement per person is 9 square meters, Yayat believes the government should not use this minimum as the primary benchmark. "An 18-square-meter house disregards the aspect of housing care. It's inhumane. A house isn't just a rational calculation. It's a living space," Yayat said.

Yayat urged the government to reconsider the policy and focus on developing vertical housing instead. He suggested that if the public is not yet accustomed to living in vertical housing, the government should provide incentives to make the concept more appealing. "This is more humane. Rather than forcing people into cramped conditions, it's better to promote apartment-style housing," he concluded.

Riri Rahayu contributed to the writing of this article

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