Call to raise housing salary cap to BD2,500

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A call to lift the maximum salary threshold for state housing services to BD2,500 has been approved by Parliament, extending eligibility beyond the current ceiling.

MPs passed the proposal in yesterday’s sitting.

It was submitted by Abdulwahid Qarata, Bader Al Tamimi, Hamad Al Doy, Ali Al Doseri and Mohammed Salman Al Ahmed.

Supporters said the higher cap would allow more citizens to access housing services and would ease pressure on household budgets as living costs rise.

They also said it could reduce reliance on extra borrowing.

During the debate, Maryam Al Saegh urged the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to review how income is counted when people apply, saying applicants should not lose their place because of routine pay rises while they wait.

“t is not acceptable that a young person applies for housing on a modest wage at the start of their working life, then has their application cancelled because their salary later rises above the ceiling due to normal increases,” she told the chamber.

She called for income to be assessed using the salary at the time of application, or through a method that accounts for gradual wage growth.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning said current rules set income limits across housing services, with an upper ceiling of BD1,200.

It said a beneficiary’s income must not exceed BD1,200 when a nomination certificate is issued.