This excludes persons such as Fidesz columnist Zsolt Bayer, who lives in Buda Castle, he added.

Parliament began debate on the bill on Wednesday.

Its scope has been restricted to World Heritage sites, after several opposition and social groups expressed concerns that a housing mafia and property investors would be the main beneficiaries of the changes.

The amendment was also criticised by Fidesz mayors, among them András Cser-Palkovics of Székesfehérvár and András Csaba Dézsi of Győr.

Böröcz said it will be mandatory for local councils to sell flats to tenants at far below market price only in the protected areas of Budapest.

The amended bill has not been posted on the parliamentary website.