A dispute has emerged between Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC) and the Male' City Council over the process of changing the registered addresses of recipients of Fahi flats in Hulhumale' Phase 2.
The issue was raised by Hulhumale' North constituency councilor Fathimath Zahiyya, who said many flat recipients had submitted applications to change their registered address but the process was being delayed.
In a post on X, Zahiyya said the city council had requested a list of flat recipients from FDC to facilitate the registrations but had not received a response.
"The city council has not yet received a reply to the letter sent to FDC to expedite this. I call on the government and the relevant authorities to cooperate fully in providing this service to the public as soon as possible," she said.
Zahiyya also shared a letter sent by the city council to FDC Managing Director Hamdhan Shakeel on 3 June.
The letter stated that applications to transfer residency to the flats had been received since 19 May and requested a list of those allocated units.
FDC: No list required
Responding to the council's claims, Hamdhan said a list of flat recipients was not required to process residency transfers.
He said the procedure would be the same as for registering residence at any other property in Malé or Hulhumalé, where applicants submit a no-objection letter from the property owner.
According to Hamdhan, the Ministry of Housing has already issued a no-objection letter covering residency registration for the flats. He said recipients can obtain the required document through the FDC online portal, where it is issued with a QR code to verify its authenticity.
"The document will have a QR code. Once it is scanned, its authenticity can be verified. There is no legal obstacle now," he said.
Hamdhan argued that because only those seeking to change their registered address need the no-objection document, there was no justification for the city council to request the complete list of approximately 4,000 flat recipients.
He questioned why information relating to recipients who had not applied to transfer their residency was being sought, suggesting there was no administrative need for the full list.
Hamdhan further alleged that the request could be intended to create political controversy and resentment towards the government.
He added that all documents required for residency registration are now available through the FDC portal and that applicants no longer need to submit physical documents to the corporation.
Housing Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib has also previously rejected suggestions that residents cannot be registered at FDC flats because they are allocated under lease agreements.
The minister said there is no legal barrier to registering residents at the flats and described the city council's position as lacking a legal basis.
