Councillor proposes automatic refunds for building deposits

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Refunding building deposits would become automatic under a new proposal being examined by Muharraq Municipal Council, ending a lengthy process blamed for delays and confusion among residents.

Councill or Abdul qader Mahmoud introduced the idea, inspired by an existing system used in Diyar Al Muharraq, where refunds happen automatically once a Building Completion Certificate is granted.

Cetificate

Currently, residents must apply for this certificate and then separately request their deposit back, often leading to unclaimed cash piling up in municipal coffers.

Under Mahmoud’s proposal, applicants would enter their banking information at the same time they apply for building or renovation permits.

Once an inspector issues the completion certificate, the deposited funds would transfer directly to the applicant’s bank, accompanied by a notification confirming the transaction.

Pressure

Muharraq Council believes the change would reduce pressure on municipal staff and make financial processes clearer and easier to track.

The existing digital system, known as Benayat, reportedly has the capability to manage such automated transfers without major adjustments.

The council will now recommend that the Minister of Municipalities Affairs issues a directive formally endorsing the automatic refund scheme and updating digital platforms accordingly.

Coordination workshop

To ensure smooth implementation, a coordination workshop between municipal bodies, inspectors, and finance teams would clarify roles and duties.

Additionally, a public awareness drive would ensure residents provide accurate banking details from the outset.

Following rollout, regular reviews would measure processing times, refund success rates, and public satisfaction with the new system.