Housing Minister Abdullah Mutalib says the government is working to amend the law to prohibit leasing out Hiya Flats.
Hiya flats were built to provide affordable housing options to the residents in Male' but the issue of flat owners leasing the housing units at high prices has been a long-standing problem.
Speaking at a press conference today, the Minister said that under the current housing agreement, the government authority has no way to take back the flat even if it has been rented out.
Minister Mutalib said that as these are social housing apartments, they cannot be rented out and that the government plans to stop such contracts by amending the law.
The Minister further said that right now, the government has set two priorities in terms of policing the housing units. He explained that the priority is to put an end to actions that harm the population at the flats, including creating labour quarters, as well as allowing restaurant-style cooking at apartments.
Minister Mutalib further said that the government plans to stop residents from leasing their flats and would make amendments to the law to achieve it.
