Housing minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib has said there is no legal obstacle to registering residents of flats developed under the Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC), rejecting claims by the Male' City Council.

Responding to a question from Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim, Minister Muththalib said the council’s position that residents cannot be registered is not grounded in policy or regulation.

The flats, developed by the Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation, are issued under a “rent-to-own” model rather than a traditional sale agreement. However, the Minister said the distinction does not prevent registration.

“Both arrangements result in ownership after full payment. Even under a sale agreement, property is not registered until payment is complete,” he said, accusing the council of causing unnecessary confusion.

Minister Muththalib added that in private real estate transactions financed by bank loans, ownership is similarly conditional, where if payments are incomplete then the property can be sold off, yet registration processes still apply.

He said the government has instructed FDC to proceed and has asked the council to carry out registrations, noting that the authority to do so rests with the city council.