MVR 1 million in unpaid rent from a single flat!

Housing Development Corporation (HDC) states MVR 1 million is the highest sum of rent that has not been received from a single flat out of the social housing units that have been issued to date.

HDC, in response to a right to information (RTI) request filed by Sun, said the highest sum of rent that has not been received from a single flat out of the social housing units overseen by the Corporation is MVR 1,115,769.73.

This amount represents unpaid rent accumulated from the date the flat was handed over up to February 28th of this year.

HDC oversees and collects rent from a total of 8,551 social housing units in Hulhumale’ including all social housing units in Phase I and Hiyaa flats in Phase II.

However, HDC said only 3,219 units have consistently paid rent on time, while 5,099 units have been identified as irregular in their rent payments.

According to the Corporation, a total of MVR 728,193,616.18 due in rent for social housing units remains unpaid as of February 28th. 

Despite flat agreements explicitly stating the flats will be repossessed if the rent goes unpaid, none of the flats have been repossessed.

Although some flat owners did pay rent regularly, a lot of them faced difficulties in making the rent payment during the COVID-19 period. As a result, then-president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration introduced easements to accommodate these difficulties.

After assuming office, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has slashed the rent of all social housing units.

Hulhumale’, developed by HDC, has seen many social housing projects which is aimed at resolving the housing constraints in capital Male’ City.

The largest social housing projects were carried out during former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s administration, where 1,500 housing units were developed with assistance from China in addition to the Hiyaa flats.