Urbanco, the management entity overseeing the social housing initiative, has recently announced a series of reforms aligned with the Week 14 promises made by the President.
Managing Director Fazul Rasheed
In recent years, the Maldives has witnessed a noteworthy stride in urban development through the establishment of social housing – a promising initiative aimed at providing residents with more affordable and accessible rental options, contributing to the aspiration of a better quality of life for those in the city.
The introduction of social housing initially sparked optimism, fostering expectations of rent control and more reasonable living costs in the urban landscape. However, as the narrative unfolded, challenges began to emerge, casting shadows on the well-intentioned endeavour.
The initial hurdles faced by these social housing units were compounded by owners who refused to pay rent, introducing a complexity that surfaced early in the implementation process. Various rationales were presented for the delayed rent payments, ranging from objections to the initial rent rates, which have since been reduced, to the financial strain associated with the costs of adding finishing touches and relocating to these housing units. The confluence of these challenges has posed significant obstacles for homeowners in meeting their financial obligations, making the dual burden of paying rent and covering relocation and finishing costs a formidable challenge.
As a significant number of social housing or 'Hiyaa flat' owners grapple with persisting fines resulting from previous rent payment disputes, a new dawn appears on the horizon, promising substantial changes for these homeowners in the coming year. Urbanco, the management entity overseeing the social housing initiative, has recently announced a series of reforms aligned with the Week 14 promises made by the President.
Foremost among these changes is the decision to waive penalties for non-payment of rent for social housing flats until the present date. This move is poised to bring relief to numerous owners burdened by accumulated fines due to past challenges in meeting their rental obligations. In a bid to further ease the financial strain, Urbanco has introduced penalty relief measures that allow the outstanding amounts to be settled through manageable instalments.
Moreover, a notable provision under the penalty relief initiative offers owners the opportunity to convert the non-payment penalty into a 'fixed penalty.' This entails setting the late payment penalty at a fixed 1% of the monthly payment amount. The significance of this change lies in its potential to bring transparency and predictability to the penalty system, ensuring that the imposed penalties do not escalate over time. Urbanco emphasizes that this adjustment adheres to Islamic principles, aligning the penalty deduction with a fixed percentage rather than an escalating daily rate.
Although these changes are looking to have a more promising future for the owners of Hiya Flats, owners must remain wary that only those who apply to participate in the fixed penalty can get these conversions. With the applications being accepted until January 10th, Urbanco has urged owners to apply the forms to the Urbanco office or email to [email protected] or [email protected].
In essence, these forthcoming changes signal a positive shift in the approach towards social housing management, aiming to alleviate the financial burdens faced by owners while introducing a more transparent and structured penalty system. As Urbanco endeavours to implement these reforms, it holds the promise of fostering a more equitable and sustainable environment for those residing in 'Hiyaa flats.'
