Under the government’s “Housing for All” policy, applications for plots and flats from those who transferred their residency to Malé were previously limited to people who had been registered as Malé residents for at least one year.
However, the Housing Ministry announced today that individuals who have held Malé residency for less than a year may now also apply for plots and flats.
According to the ministry, applicants who meet the criteria for the 15-year Malé residency category may submit their forms accordingly.
The ministry stated that when submitting an application for a plot or flat, applicants must provide documentation proving 15 years of continuous residence in Malé, along with a document confirming the date on which they were registered as a Malé resident.
While the rules have been amended to allow applications from those who have been registered as Malé residents for less than a year, the deadline for submitting applications for plots and flats remains the end of this month. The government is, nevertheless, continuing to revise the eligibility criteria for housing applications.
On the 12th of last month, Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muthalib confirmed that work was under way to amend the conditions for flat applications.
Among the changes introduced since flat applications opened in January, the government published a regulation relating to a special “Binveriya” scheme. This regulation includes provisions to allocate plots under the current government’s scheme to those who were unable to apply for plots under the previous “Binveriya” scheme of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration due to already owning a flat.
Although it had previously been announced that two-bedroom flats would be allocated to remaining applicants who had scored the 75 points required to qualify under the previous MDP government’s “Gedhoruveriya” flat scheme, that policy has now been revised. Such flats will instead be allocated to those living in disadvantaged circumstances.
Several other amendments have also been introduced.
Under the government’s “Housing for All” policy, a total of 7,900 flats and 15,000 plots are to be distributed. Of the 7,900 flats, 4,000 are designated for registered Malé residents. A further 1,500 flats are to be allocated to people living in Malé who do not hold Malé residency, while the remaining 2,400 flats have been earmarked for special categories determined by the government.
