Housing Minister Mohamed Aslam has stated that around 41 percent of those living in social housing provided by the government are not paying their rents on a regular basis.
Minister Aslam made the remarks while speaking at the ceremony held today to hand over the flats built by MACL to its recipients.
Minister Aslam said that while residents of the social housing flats can make the housing units their own, up to 31 to 41 percent are not paying their rent regularly. He further said that if such projects are to be carried out in a sustainable manner, current tenants must keep up with their rents on a regular manner as it was difficult to carry out such projects without the rents.
Moreover, Minister Aslam conceded that there was no way to carry out housing projects without rents and that future schemes would be designed in a manner that ensures flat owners pay their rents regularly.
Hiya flats is one of the biggest social housing project commenced by the government of former President Yameen, in an attempt to give affordable living spaces to the citizens of Maldives. However, many protested against paying the rent of MVR 7,500 claiming that it was too high for unfinished and small apartments.
