Half of Hulhumale' social housing tenants are not paying rent: HDC MD Zuhair

Half of the flats allocated under the social housing scheme in Hulhumale’ are not paying rent, according to Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Managing Director Ali Zuhair.

Speaking on the Voice of Maldives’ Ahaashey Bunaanan programme, Zuhair said the corporation now oversees more than 12,000 housing units in Hulhumale’, yet only around half of the tenants remit their monthly dues for various reasons. He did not disclose the rent amounts or the precise number of households involved.

Data shared by Sun on May 27 last year showed HDC was renting and maintaining 8,511 units at the time. Of these, 3,219 social housing units were recorded as regular payers, while 5,099 were listed as irregular payers. As of February 28, 2023, HDC had not received MVR 728 million in overdue rent from social housing tenants.

ޒުހައިރު ވިދާޅުވީ ފެލެޓްތައް ކުއްޔަށް ދޭތޯ ބެލުމުގެ ކަންކަން އެކުންފުނިން އަބަދުވެސް ބަލަމުންދާނެކަމަށާއި އަޅަންޖެހޭ ފިޔަވަޅުތައް އަޅަމުންދާނެކަމަށް https://t.co/pF0xVE7boa https://t.co/bjfxx6Qwjr

— PSM News (@psmnewsmv) October 7, 2026

Under the flat agreements, HDC holds the authority to confiscate units if rent is not paid consistently. While many households continued paying on time, a significant number struggled after the pandemic-driven financial downturn. The administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih introduced temporary alleviations, and the current government has since reduced rent for Hulhumale’ social housing units.

HDC has long been central to the nation’s housing efforts. After Hulhumale’ was dredged during the rule of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the first housing blocks were raised there. Every administration that followed launched major social housing programmes, with the largest being the second phase of the Hiyaa project developed during former President Abdulla Yameen’s tenure.