Cubans Now Get To Own Houses, Just Like Real People

Cubans are now allowed to own their very own crumbling, roach-infested, un-air-conditioned hellholes instead of just renting them from the government. And, what fun! They can even sell them! Back to the government:

The housing decree spells out rules to let Cubans renting from their state employers keep their apartment or house after leaving their jobs. They could gain title and even pass it on to their children or other relatives. Those who could take advantage of the new law include military families, sugar workers, construction workers, teachers and doctors.

Suck it, store owners and bus drivers.

“This is like no man’s land that they are legalizing,” said Oscar Espinosa Chepe, a state-trained economist who served time in jail for criticizing the government. “It gets rid of that insecurity many people had and alleviates bureaucratic pressure.”

By law, Cubans still are not permitted to sell their homes to anyone but the government, though they may swap housing with government approval — a process that can take years.

Two officials at Cuba’s National Housing Institute, who insisted on not being named because they were not authorized to speak to the foreign news media, said the new law was probably the first in a series of housing reforms.

Mmm freedom! Tastes like lead paint and red tape.

Cuba to Allow Thousands to Own Homes [NY Times]