Housing Scheme Revised to Allow Upgrade from One-Room to Three-Room Flats, President Announced

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has changed the housing policy to allow individuals who previously received one-room flats under earlier housing schemes to apply for three-room flats.

The President announced the policy revision in his opening remarks at a meeting with residents of Galolhu ward, held at Imaadhudheen School in Malé City last night, before opening the floor for public discussion.

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

“A lot of people have asked if the government can create a way for those who received one-room flats in the past to apply [for the newly announced housing schemes]. We considered it in great detail and discussed it during the previous meeting,” he said.

“The policy has been changed so that people with one-room flats can also apply under the scheme. Those who are selected will have to relinquish those places [the one-room flat] and receive the three-room flats they may receive from the current scheme,” he added.

President Muizzu had earlier indicated his intention to revise the policy on December 7, during a meeting with Henveiru residents. At the time, he noted that the current scheme, which opens for applications on 4 January 2026, excludes individuals who had previously received one-room flats. He said the policy would be amended to allow them to apply for three-room units if they agree to relinquish their existing flats.

Article 11(a)(iv) of the Flat Allocation Policy for Malé Residents states that individuals who have previously received housing from the government, a state-owned enterprise, or a cooperative society are not eligible under the current scheme. Holders of one-room flats fall under this restriction, which the President said will now be revised.

Eligibility criteria for Malé natives require applicants to be registered in the Malé Registry from birth and to be listed on the registry of a household in Malé after birth. Long-term Malé residents who are eligible for this scheme include people who have not registered in the Malé Registry or a household in Malé but have continuously lived in Malé for 15 years.

Under the government’s housing programme — the Residential Land for Malé Residents Policy and the Flat Allocation Policy — 7,500 housing units and 15,000 land plots are to be allocated in the Greater Malé Region.

Of the 15,000 land plots planned under the current administration, 10,000 will be allocated to Malé natives. A further 3,000 plots are designated for long-term residents, 1,500 for households being relocated, and 450 for elderly applicants.

The President also said the administration will consider revising housing eligibility criteria for Malé City residents who have lived in the city for the past five years.