Morocco Launches Study to Boost Affordable Rental Housing in Major Cities

Estimated at a cost of 3.5 million dirhams, this technical and field mission will be conducted by an expert, in direct coordination with the ministry. A monitoring committee will be set up to facilitate decision-making and ensure the effectiveness of results. Due to its affordable rent, intermediate rental housing is the solution to the difficulties in accessing housing for the middle class and young working professionals, especially in large cities such as Casablanca, Mohammedia, Rabat, Salé, Marrakech, Fez, Tangier, Agadir, Dakhla and Laayoune, which are experiencing strong real estate pressure.

The mission will take place in two phases: the first consists of an in-depth analysis of the residential rental market in Morocco, taking into account economic and social data, the legal and fiscal framework, as well as current practices, with a particular focus on intermediate rental housing. This part will take into account the opinions of all concerned actors (real estate agencies, local authorities, property developers, etc.), a comparative study with pioneering countries in this field such as France, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Argentina, as well as a diagnosis of the reality of the rental market in Morocco and possible scenarios for implementing the program. This phase should be completed within two months from the launch date.

As for the second phase, it aims to define the characteristics of the final program and its implementation and financing mechanisms. Specifically, it will allow for precisely defining the target population (its characteristics, needs and geographical distribution), proposing residential products adapted to the needs of middle-income households, and launching a pilot phase in coordination with the ministry. This phase takes into account the completion of the technical and financial study, with the identification of possible funding sources (state support, partnerships with banks, incentives for investors, etc.), to determine the viability of the program.