Flats to be issued to November 2023 list

Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib has announced that the government has now decided to issue flats considering the November 2023 list announced by the previous government as the final list. However, persons who do not meet criteria will be excluded, he said.

The previous government had announced a list of recipients for the 4000 flats being constructed in Hulhumale' under the Gedhoruveriya housing scheme. That list included 3,721 persons as eligible for three bedroom flats and 1,218 persons as eligible for two bedroom flats.

This government later reviewed this list and published a list in February of those amongst these that met the criteria. The government said that after all verifications, 1,423 persons on the list were deemed eligible for three bedroom flats and 397 persons for two bedroom flats.

The ministry said then that most persons had been excluded because they were unable to prove that they had lived the required period in capital Male' city at a stretch without interruptions. Although the previous government had accepted letters from councils stating residence in Male', this government decided to not accept those.

In a press conference held at the President's Office today, Minister Muththalib said that now, the list published by the former government would be considered as the final list, and no other lists would be issued by this government.

However, those who fail to meet the criteria will be removed from the final list, he said.

As most of the recipients on the final list later lost eligibility due to being unable to prove 15 years of continued residence in Male', the ministry has revised how to review these documents so as to find a solution to the issue.

As such, a person who has documents proving residence in Male' prior to 2007 will be considered as having lived continuously in the capital unless there are documents proving they moved to another place, the Minister said.

"If we can see that the individual started living in Male' fifteen years ago, and if there isn't proof that they relocated to any other island after this, then they, too, will be considered as having resided in Male' for fifteen years," he said, adding that this would mean that many would now meet the criteria.

The Minister said that all submitted documents will be reviewed for this purpose.

In the instance that it comes to light that false documents have been submitted, or the person is proved to not meet criteria, the person's form will then be disqualified.

If both husband and wife become eligible for flats, only one will receive a flat, the minister said.

Further, persons who have received land or housing under other schemes will also be removed from the list, the minister said. The vacated slots in the list will be filled through taking a draw amongst those who have scored over 75 marks.

The Minister announced that agreements will be made with flat recipients and the flats will be handed over in September. Although the previous government made agreements with some online, this government has decided not to consider those.