According to the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, more than 1600 applications have been submitted to the designated portal for the new social housing scheme within first week of its announcement.
The ministry’s statistics show a total of 1,160 applications for housing units (apartments) and another 456 applications for land plots.
The ministry also adds that another 7,605 remain in draft stages within the portal.
Maldives government announced applications for 7,900 flats and 15,000 land plots of 1,250 square feet each under the scheme.
While Male’ citizens are eligible, applicants from other islands are eligible if their duration of residence exceeds 15 years.
From the apartments available under this scheme, 4000 units are earmarked for Male’ citizens. The remaining have been split with 1500 units for residents who are non-citizens of Male’ and the rest 2,400 units under a special category.
Out of the 10,000 land plots, 7000 plots will be allocated for people with Male’ citizenship and residence since birth while another 1000 plots will be awarded to non-Male’ citizens on the official Male’ residence registry.
The remaining 2000 plots will be given to people who were registered as Male’ residents.
Besides this, 3000 plots will be given to other residents of Male’ area while 500 units will be given to those who cannot legally inherit property.
Another 1500 plots have been specifically allocated for individuals who choose to relocate from properties in Male’ that are difficult to develop due to their location within narrow alleys.