A new housing ‘plot and loan’ scheme could be introduced in Bahrain.
MPs are set to debate and vote, during their weekly session on Tuesday, on a proposed amendment to the 1976 Housing Law, presented by MP Mohammed Al Marafi.
The current rule only allows Bahrainis to benefit from either a plot, housing unit or loan provided by the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry.
Mr Al Marafi believes the current rules are unfair since many end up with an empty plot that they can’t build or get a housing loan that barely can buy land.
Mr Al Marafi
“The conventional option is to wait for a social home but that takes more than two decades and this has seen the ministry’s waiting list burgeon to 60,000 families,” he said.
If the amendment is approved, the ministry would be forced to give 400sqm plots to those with a monthly income above BD1,200 and 300sqm plots for people with a lower income, while giving the minister the right to determine an adequate loan.
However, Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna Al Romaihi asked Parliament to show flexibility.
“In November 2023, Parliament approved amendments to the same law that would give the Housing and Urban Planning Minister more rights to add new services, as well as introduce new criteria and more facilities, specifically for low-income families,” she said.
“The government has drafted those amendments, which offer much-needed flexibility, and are now with MPs to review.
“Putting obligations doesn’t allow flexible assessment and we are working on multiple options that would allow people to move into their dream homes.”
Ms Al Romaihi said earlier that innovative, fair, fast and lower cost housing services were being constantly introduced to help push ahead with thousands of applications for homes.
Ms Al Romaihi
Around 55,000 Bahraini families are waiting for social homes, apartments and plots across Bahrain’s four governorates.
A total of 13,788 requests for social homes were pending in the Capital Governorate, 8,739 in Muharraq, 21,404 in Northern and 7,455 in Southern governorate.
A total of 276 families awaited plots in the Capital governorate, 629 in Muharraq, 387 in Northern and 393 in Southern governorate.
There are 409 requests for apartments each in Capital and Muharraq, 441 in Northern and 632 in Southern Governorate.
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