Housing ministry says job loss alone won’t cancel applications

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

The Housing Ministry has told MPs that losing a job or facing financial difficulties does not automatically cancel a housing application, ahead of a debate on Tuesday over a proposal to double the period for reinstating cancelled applications. The item was rolled over from the last parliamentary session after time ran short.

In a written reply, the ministry said applications are only cancelled when an applicant fails to meet one of the conditions required to receive housing, at which point a formal cancellation decision is issued. Under Article 69 of Ministerial Decision No. 909 of 2015, applicants whose files are cancelled on these grounds can request reinstatement within two years of the cancellation date, except where the lost condition is Bahraini nationality.

Divorce The ministry also noted that changes in personal status, such as divorce, do not automatically result in cancellation. Files may be retained and moved to a category that better reflects the family’s situation under existing classifications.

MP Hanan Fardan, who submitted the proposal, is urging the government to extend the two-year limit to four years, saying temporary setbacks such as job loss or economic instability can make it difficult for families to restore eligibility within the current timeframe. She added that the extension would allow households more time to recover, reduce the need to submit new applications, and ease the social and psychological pressure on applicants.

Longer reinstatement periods An explanatory note argued that longer reinstatement periods would support family stability and lower the demand for new housing files, citing international practices that allow extended reinstatement windows. The Services and Environment Committee recommended approval, with all attending members backing the move on public-interest grounds.