Housing applications dropped citing growing salary and age, says Bahrain MP Al-Kooheji

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Cancelling housing applications of people whose salary exceeded BD1,200 over time has deprived many of their right to own a home, said a Parliamentarian. MP Hamad Al-Kooheji said the cancellation decision comes down as a shock for citizens, who had waited for long and had several obligations. “It is necessary to amend the conditions for obtaining social housing, especially regarding age,” said Al Kooheji.

He added: “Depriving housing service to people above 35 years of age make many waiting citizens ineligible.” The housing, Al-Kooheji said, has cancelled the requests of citizens whose salaries exceeded the specified ceiling, as they waited for years for a housing unit.

“Cancellations took place because of a citizen’s career growth, the annual increases and promotions he received.” Citing the situation, Al-Kooheji asked the parliament, “Does the career development and ambition of the Bahraini citizen make him ineligible for obtaining a housing service.” “Some of the citizens’ salaries, when applying for the housing unit, were well within the application limits. However, after years of waiting, career development and promotions, their salaries grew.” “Cancelling their applications, citing their salary, now is an encroachment on their rights,” said Al-Kooheji.

Citing a report of the Parliamentary Investigation Committee in Housing Services, Al-Kooheji said that the Housing ministry dropped 650 such requests for the salaries of beneficiaries breaching the application limit.

He also pointed out that the Housing Ministry has also cancelled the applications of divorced women and transferred the application to the name of one of the sons. “These acts are threatening the cohesion of the Bahraini family and putting many mothers in a tight spot.”