Flats go-ahead for Bahrainis

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
YOUNG Bahrainis will soon be allowed to add their own flats to their parents' government homes.The Manama Municipal Council voted yesterday in favour of the Manama Municipality proposal to amend the government housing law.
It aims to allow young Bahrainis to build their flats at their parents' government homes without having to move.
Currently, Bahrainis living in government houses are unable to rent out, expand or build without permission from His Majesty King Hamad. They can apply for permission only if they have lived there for seven years.
Council technical committee chairman Sadiq Rahma said the amendment would help young Bahrainis because they won't have to pay rent elsewhere.
"It will just cost them money to build their flat, instead of paying monthly rent," he said.
"Rent rates are expensive and are a huge burden, particularly on newly married couples.
"We have been pushing for this amendment for a long time and thankfully it has come from the government, which knows how difficult it is to find suitable accommodation these days."
Mr Rahma said the scheme was open to all applicants, but would be regulated based on specific conditions.
"The minimum area for an individual flat - whether on the side, top or first floor of the house - should be not less than 100 square metres or the request will be rejected," he said.
"The house will also be surveyed by municipality engineers to ensure that it can accommodate the additional flat.
"The flat is purely for family use and anyone renting it out will face legal action. These flats will have separate electricity and water registration, since they will be considered as a separate accommodation."
He said councillors were happy with the proposal, which many Capital Governorate residents have been calling for. "We have been receiving numerous applications asking us to amend the current government housing law," said Mr Rahma.