Rabat – Morocco’s national Cities Without Slums program reached 382,176 families by the end of 2025, according to Housing Secretary of State Adib Benbrahim, who addressed lawmakers on Monday in Rabat.
Speaking before the House of Representatives, Benbrahim said the program has helped declare 62 cities and urban centers free of slums, a result he linked to a change in public policy.
Authorities, he explained, no longer rely solely on rehousing but pursue a broader resettlement model that seeks social and urban stability rather than temporary solutions.
During the current government mandate, the state adopted this revised approach to address substandard housing, intending to ensure long-term integration for beneficiary households. Benbrahim said the shift reflects lessons drawn from earlier phases of the program.
Under the 2024-2028 five-year plan, officials updated data for 120,000 households across all Moroccan cities. The program now places stronger weight on cooperation with private developers, particularly to expand the supply of homes priced below MAD 300,000 ($30,000).
Benbrahim said the required financial contribution from beneficiaries remains limited and, in certain cases, does not exceed MAD 100,000 ($10,000).
He added that authorities expect the current phase to conclude by late 2027 or early 2028, alongside new oversight tools meant to prevent the return of informal settlements.
The housing official also addressed the steady rise in property prices and rents, which he attributed mainly to strong demand that outpaces supply, especially in major cities.
These urban centers attract jobs and services, but face land shortages and high land costs, factors that place upward pressure on prices.
Investor activity has further contributed to the trend, as property purchases for commercial rental or resale affect sales prices and rents, Benbrahim said.
He also noted the expansion of short-term rental markets through specialized platforms, which diverts part of the housing stock away from long-term residential use.
Benbrahim added that authorities have launched a study to develop a new residential rental formula with prices about 20% below current market levels.
The proposed model would allow tenants to count part of their rent as advance payments toward eventual home ownership.
Preliminary results from the study, he said, will be published in March, as policymakers seek additional tools to ease housing pressure in Morocco’s growing cities.
