1 September brings major changes in Hungary: Housing support, motorway tolls, public transport and more

This year, 1 September brought a particularly large number of changes for Hungarians. A new housing support program was launched, SZÉP card rules were updated, convenience fees for highway tolls were eliminated, pension vouchers began to be distributed, and changes also came into effect in notary fees and Budapest public transport.

Home Start Program: 3% fixed loan for young buyers

The Home Start Program, which helps young first-time homebuyers, officially launched today. Under the scheme, applicants can take out a home loan of up to HUF 50 million at a fixed 3% interest rate, with repayment terms of up to 25 years. Compared to current market loans with 7–9% interest, this offers a significant relief—for example, a HUF 30 million loan could reduce monthly repayments by nearly HUF 90,000, according to Index.

Applicants do not need to be married or have children. They only need to have a Hungarian residence, employment, and at least two years of social security contributions. A key restriction is that the applicant cannot own more than a 50% stake in a property, except when the value does not exceed HUF 15 million.

The program can also be combined with other supports, such as CSOK Plus or Babaváró, offering even greater advantages to young families and singles.

SZÉP Card: Mandatory digital acceptance and new rules

Starting in September, all contracted partners must accept the digital SZÉP card, making usage faster and more transparent. An important deadline is approaching: if cardholders do not spend the remaining balance one year after it was loaded—by either 20 March or 20 September—the provider will deduct a 15% fee, reports Haszon.hu.

It is especially important to note that for amounts credited between 20 March and 20 September 2024, any unused balance may be subject to deduction as early as 20 September this year.

Motorway vignettes: Convenience fees eliminated

A major relief for drivers is the removal of convenience fees for online motorway toll purchases starting this September. Previously, depending on the service provider, extra costs ranged from HUF 400 to several thousand forints.