Morocco Unveils Ambitious Plan to Revolutionize Urban Housing for Middle Class

Access to home ownership is becoming increasingly difficult in large cities, especially for middle-income households and young working people. This is evidenced by the data from the last general census (RGPH 2024) which indicate that 62.8% of the population now lives in urban areas, compared to 60.3% in 2014. In addition, purchase and rental prices are skyrocketing. As a result, the gap between the available supply and the financial capacities of the inhabitants is widening further. Based on these findings, the Ministry of National Land Use Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy has launched a strategic assistance mission to develop intermediate rental housing (LLI)," says the daily Les Inspirations Éco, specifying that this mission is part of an international call for tenders.

It is a question of establishing an offer of housing with controlled rents, situated between the free market and social housing, in order to relieve the pressure in the most tense urban areas. The mission is also responsible for testing and structuring different formulas, such as rental with option to purchase, subletting supervised by specialized operators, and savings systems integrated into the payment of rent to facilitate future access to home ownership. The budget for the mission is 3.5 million dirhams.

The project is divided into two stages. A comprehensive diagnosis of the national rental market will be carried out during a 3-month phase 1. It will include an assessment of needs, a study of tax and financial levers likely to encourage rental investment, as well as a benchmark of best practices internationally, with countries such as France, the United Kingdom, Singapore or Argentina. Phase 2 will be executed over two months. The tasks to be carried out are multiple: definition of the final program with its technical and financial characteristics, development of economic simulations and framing of potential partnerships, particularly with real estate investors and developers.

Agadir, Casablanca/Mohammedia, Dakhla, Fès, Laâyoune, Marrakech, Tanger and Rabat/Salé are the pilot cities selected.