Rabat — Morocco’s Housing Minister Fatima Zahra El Mansouri outlined the country’s shifting housing policy during a parliamentary session Monday.
She also announced new programs targeting middle-class renters while acknowledging shortcomings in existing social housing efforts.
The social housing program contracted 2.1 million units between its launch in 2010 and conclusion in 2020.
However, only 716,331 units have sold — averaging 47,055 annually — with 264,130 sales occurring since 2020.
El Mansouri identified critical flaws in the program during the November 24 oral questioning session at the Chamber of Representatives. Projects concentrated heavily in major cities, while strict requirements — 500 units minimum in urban areas, 100 in rural zones — limited flexibility.
The program excluded middle-class buyers and saw just ten companies complete 80% of all projects.
“These findings led us to adopt a new strategy through the Housing Support Program, which better addresses territorial needs,” El Mansouri said.
New rental program targets mobile workers
The ministry now prioritizes rental housing for middle-income families — a shift from Morocco’s traditional ownership-focused approach, according to the minister. The program will serve young people, newlyweds, and workers who relocate frequently for jobs.
El Mansouri explained that renting allows families to invest in income-generating activities rather than tying up capital in property purchases, a model common in many countries.
The ministry commissioned studies analyzing rental markets, financial structures, and public-private partnership models. Officials will test pilot projects in high-demand cities before expanding nationwide, establishing rent controls and access conditions.
Direct aid program shows mixed results
The direct housing assistance program has approved 159,385 applications, with 75,760 families receiving aid so far. Women represent 47% of beneficiaries, youth under 40 account for 55%, and Moroccans living abroad make up 24%.
Most recipients (62%) received MAD 70,000 ($7,534), while 38% got MAD 100,000 ($10,764). Monthly approvals jumped 39% in 2025, reaching 3,818 compared to 2,749 in 2024.
The program reached previously underserved cities: Fez accounts for 13% of beneficiaries, El Jadida 4%, Settat 3%, and Benslimane 3.5%.
Economic impacts proved substantial, as cement sales rose 11.29%, housing loans increased 3%, and developer financing grew 4.5%. Meanwhile, small and medium businesses handle over 80% of program implementation, while the construction sector added 74,000 jobs, according to Bank Al Maghrib.
Rural housing lags despite new efforts
The rural social housing program launched in 2019 fell short, producing just 2,195 units by September this year.
The new Housing Aid Program registered 4,622 rural beneficiaries, and the Al Omrane Group will build approximately 3,000 homes across 49 emerging rural centers.
The 2026 finance bill includes a widely anticipated provision, allowing co-owners to access housing aid — a measure expected to benefit many rural property holders.
