Govt to confiscate ineligible flats, land

Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib said on Sunday that land and flats allocated under the previous administration’s Binveriya and Gedhoruveriya housing schemes will be confiscated from recipients who do not meet the basic eligibility requirements.

Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office, the minister addressed concerns raised by members of the public and journalists regarding the cancellation of housing units previously allocated under the schemes.

President Mohamed Muizzu had pledged during his presidential campaign that land and flats issued under earlier housing schemes would be retained by beneficiaries. However, Dr Muththalib said this commitment did not extend to allocations made to ineligible recipients through misrepresentation or non-compliance with eligibility criteria.

According to the minister, around 400 cases have been identified in which beneficiaries do not meet the minimum requirements of the schemes. He said some individuals had received housing benefits under more than one scheme, while others failed to satisfy residency and ownership conditions.

Dr Muththalib said the eligibility criteria under the schemes include specific requirements, such as long-term residency in Malé and the absence of existing ownership of land or housing units. Where official government records show that these requirements are not met, the allocations are subject to cancellation.

He clarified that the cancellations are not related to the points-based assessment used in the allocation process. Instead, they are limited to cases where basic eligibility conditions are not satisfied.

The minister noted that although the government had announced that applicants scoring above 76 points would be allocated three-bedroom flats, more than 400 applicants in that category did not receive flats. He said some flats were later allocated by lottery to applicants who scored 75 points, leading to further discrepancies that required review.

Dr Muththalib said the review process is ongoing and that no allocations are cancelled without communication with the affected individuals. He added that cases under review are being assessed individually, and decisions are not taken arbitrarily.

He did not disclose the exact number of allocations cancelled so far but confirmed that recipients who own other properties or who fail to meet residency requirements are among those affected.