Criticism over Hiyaa Flat being rented out for MVR 21,000

Hiyaa Flats have seen two rent reductions that now sits at MVR 4,984, with the announcement of a two-room Hiyaa Flat to be rented out for MVR 21,000 drawing public criticism.

The Hiyaa Flats in Hulhumale' Phase 2 are part of the government's social housing scheme, of which the Hiyaa Flats have the lowest rent rates with a monthly rental payment of MVR 3,984. The rent is close to MVR 5,000 along with maintenance fees, which is considered a small amount when comparing Male's rental prices.

The rent for the Hiyaa Flats was initially at MVR 7,500 a month, with the previous administration lowering it to MVR 5,300 in May 2023 in line with the Presidential Election. When the current government took office, the rent was lowered once again, with two-room flats going for MVR 4,984 monthly along with maintenance fees.

There has been a rising issue where people have been putting up the Hiyaa Flats given for those in need for an exorbitant amount of rent with no action being taken, with the latest rent announcement citing a monthly cost of MVR 21,000. This is about five times more than the established rent amount.

The post has since sparked public criticism.

A lot of people have questioned as to why no steps have been taken against such actions. Some residents have even sent complaints to the government regarding the rental of flats as labor quarters.

Some people have written that the rental of a flat that was made by the government for those who could not afford high priced accommodation at such exorbitant rates is not something that should be looked over. The public is now calling for such individuals to be stripped of their flats and to be given to those in need.

The rental of flats that were given to those whose living conditions have been poorer than most at hiked up prices has always been an issue. But the issue of flats being rented out for high prices when the rent was already so low has not been addressed nor stopped.

While this situation has happened in the past, one of the three-room flats that are currently being given has already been put up for rent amounting to MVR 25,000, with this becoming a growing issue as well.

With the emergence of this issue, HDC has said that they will monitor whether the flats they are giving out are being put up for rent.

HDC has stated that their social housing scheme is a government program to provide affordable housing to those unable to afford it, and so the rental of said flat to another party is a violation of the agreement with the flat owners and HDC.

HDC has warned that steps will be taken against those who are violating the agreement in such a manner.

As per the Housing Ministry's regulation that was gazetted in 2022 that outlines the rental of community housing flats, such apartments cannot be rented out. Instead, a room from the apartment can be rented out.

And so, the agreements for Hiyaa Flats and FDC's flats were done with the aforementioned taken into account. However, even though there have been instances where social housing agreements have been violated, no flats have been taken back.