Wives' property won't harm husbands' housing rights, new proposal

TDT | Manama

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A new proposal aiming to ensure that a wife’s property ownership does not prevent her husband from accessing government housing is set for a parliamentary vote next Tuesday. Critics warn that this change could create a dangerous precedent, potentially enabling families to exploit the system.

The proposal, which has the backing of the Public Utilities and Environment Committee, challenges the current rule under Ministerial Decision No. 909 of 2015, which treats the financial resources of a husband and wife as a combined entity. This policy often results in husbands being disqualified from housing services.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, however, opposes the proposal, warning that separating financial responsibilities could lead to people transferring property ownership to spouses to gain unfair access to housing benefits.

The ministry suggests instead revising existing regulations, such as the property size limits under Decision No. 90 of 2019, and taking into account the purpose of property ownership, such as whether it is used for business. Despite these concerns, the committee firmly supports the proposal.

They argue that, according to Islamic law, the husband is responsible for providing housing, irrespective of the wife’s financial situation or property ownership. The committee also references Bahrain’s existing laws, such as Law No. 32 of 2010, which excludes the wife’s financial details from her husband’s obligations, a precedent they believe should extend to housing policies.

On 26 October, the committee met with Minister of Housing and Urban Planning Amna Al Rumaihi and senior officials, including Engineer Asim Abdul Latif and Fatima Al Manai, to hear the ministry’s concerns. Letters were also sent to the Supreme Council for Women and the Bahrain Women’s Union, but no responses were received by the time the report was finalised.