Tata flat sale website launched

A website to sell flats has been launched by the Housing Development Corporation for apartments awarded under a previous government’s social housing programme.

The flats, built by Tata Housing Development Company, went on sale late last year and people queued up for them, but the government stopped the proceedings because it wanted an easier way for people to buy them.

“Anyone qualified for the flats can use the portal to send the necessary documentation during the five-day period when government offices are open. And if they don’t submit the necessary documents during this period, their submission for a flat will be cancelled,” HDC said in a press statement Wednesday.

Those who fail to qualify for the flats will be notified via SMS, according to HDC. The portal will be open between 10am and 3pm. The website does not appear to be working.

The HDC previously announced the Tata flats were priced at MVR2 million (US$129,755) and would be sold to eligible bidders on a first-come first-served basis.

The bidders must be married and over 21 years of age. Neither the bidder nor the spouse can own housing in the Greater Malé region.

Around 75 of the flats will be sold from the Malé Square complex built in the Gaakoshi plot and 30 from the Malé Grand at the old Arabbiyya School compound.

Some 268 flats were previously awarded under the social housing programme. Flat winners were initially told to pay a monthly rent of MVR9,725, but in March 2016 the housing ministry raised the amount to MVR33,000.

Photo: Mihaaru