HDC and SeaLife housing scheme draws complaints

People who bought flats in a Hulhumalé housing scheme have expressed concern after the developer did not answer questions over project delays, local media reported Saturday.

The five-year project between the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and SeaLife Global was announced in 2014.

SeaLife Global is a joint venture between SeaLife Maldives and two Dubai firms. They entered into a contract with the HDC to develop 3,000 housing units and offices.

It was announced that between 800 and 1,000 flats would be completed within two years as part of the project’s first phase, with people shelling out MVR50,000 (US$3,191) a time on booking fees.

One person who talked to Raajje MV said a booking fee was paid in August 2017 and that MVR1 million was given as a down payment last November.

Buyers were told an agreement would be signed on January 15, but SeaLife and the HDC have not come up with an agreement or provided information.

SeaLife has also not responded to demands that the money be returned, the person said.

When President Abdulla Yameen laid the foundation stone for the project, SeaLife announced the flats would be handed over before the end of this year.

But Raajje MV reported that little work was being done at the construction site, and buyers have complained because there is no information from SeaLife about project delays.

Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muizzu told Raajje MV the ministry was not involved in the project and the HDC was unavailable for comment.

Correspondence posted to the project’s official Facebook page shows the land was handed over by the HDC to developers in September 2016, with SeaLife paying a deposit of MVR300,000.

A letter, signed by HDC official Nashwa Abdulla, tells SeaLife to “proceed with the timeline of the project.”

The most recently published photos of the development date back to November.

Photos: SeaLife Global