518 applications for land and flats in 24 hours

Housing Ministry, on Monday, states they have received 518 applications for land and flats from Male’ area under the current administration’s ‘Emmenah Boahiyaavahikan’ housing policy within the span of 24 hours.

The current administration launched its ‘Emmenah Boahiyaavahikan’ policy, which translates to 'Housing for All', on November 16th. Applications for land and flats from Male’ area under the policy opened on Sunday morning.

Housing Ministry, on Monday, said they have received 518 applications since then: 399 applications for flats and 119 applications for land. The Ministry added that 3,836 forms are in the draft stages.

Applications for land and flats can be submitted via the Ministry’s website. The deadline for land application has been set at 23:59pm on March 4^th while the deadline for flat application has been set at 23:50pm on April 17^th.

The government, under its ‘Emmenah Boahiyaavahikan’ policy, plans to issue 7,900 flats and 15,000 land plots from Male’ area to address the housing needs across various income groups.

Under the regulation on issuance of land plots published by the government earlier, Male’ natives will be issued land from Male’ area and the current administration’s biggest housing project, Rasmale’. Meanwhile, natives of other islands residing in Male’ will be issued land only from Rasmale’.

The largest plots of land issued under both categories will measure 1,250 square feet.

Meanwhile, flats will be issued from Male’ area on a rent-to-own basis or under the affordable home ownership model.

While applicants can choose whether they want a two-room or three-room flat, it is the Housing Ministry that will decide how many-roomed flat they are eligible for. 

Speaking to the press after the opening of applications on Sunday, Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib all housing projects currently underway will be completed and handed over to recipients before the end of the current administration’s five-year term. He noted that the housing opportunities announced on Sunday do not include any projects that have yet to commence. 

The previous administration, led by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, had also announced large-scale land and flat allocations, and work on those initiatives is still in progress.

President Dr. Muizzu has pledged to provide housing for every Maldivian over the age of 18. His policy introduces several changes from the previous government’s approach, including giving the Housing Ministry the authority to decide the number of rooms an applicant is eligible for and revising the criteria for flat allocations.

The incumbent administration had dubbed 2025 as the year of housing, allocating a record amount in the state budget for the purpose. However, by the end of the year, more than 90 percent of the budget remain untouched with few projects to show.