Govt mulls Hiyaa flat rent cut via project loan reschedule
Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's government, which started the Hiyaa project, had fixed MVR 5,600 as rent for the flats.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has indicated that he will consider reducing the rent for the Hiyaa flats by negotiating an extension to the repayment period of the loan availed for the project, a movement representing tenants said Sunday,
President Solih met with a representative delegation from Hiyaa People's Union. At the meeting held at the President's Office Sunday afternoon, the movement mainly requested a reduction in the rent payable for the flats.
Ali Rifau from the movement told Atoll Times Sunday evening that President Solih had proposed three ways to reduce the rent of Hiyaa flats. The three ways, according to Rifau:
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A rent cut for a specified period depending on the repayment period of loan taken by the tenants for completion of interior works of the flats
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Identify those who find it most difficult to pay rent or are in need of it, and reduce rent only for them
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A blanket rent cut for tenants after extending the loan repayment period for the flat project from 25 years to 30 years
Rifau said the movement wanted the third option and had conveyed it to the president.
"The president said he would meet us again soon after consulting the authorities on the issue of such a reduction. The president gave us hope and assurance that he would give a befitting reply soon," he said.
Rifau said the president said in Sunday’s meeting:
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Initially, the idea was to announce the decision on rent reduction before Ramadan
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This was delayed as HDC is currently conducting a survey involving Hiyaa tenants
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The survey identified what could already be improved
The minimum rent offered at Sunday’s meeting was MVR 5,500. Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's government, which started the Hiyaa project, had fixed MVR 5,600 as rent for the flats, the then housing minister Mohamed Muizzu had said that earlier.
Solih's government fixed the rent at MVR 8,500 per month inclusive of maintenance fee of MVR 1,000.
