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Archive -Seychelles

Sale of state land to be more transparent, fair |16 August 2018

 

 

 

The sale of state land and land bank is expected to be more transparent, fair and effective following a revision of the existing policy governing this matter.

The Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport announced the details of the revised policy for the sale of state land and land bank at a press conference at the ministry’s office at Independence House on Tuesday.

In January 2017, the ministry commenced a review process of the existing policy to re-assess demand for land and work on a comprehensive plan towards the sustainable management of state land.

The new and revised policy was approved in July.

Explaining the new policy, the Minister for Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport Pamela Charlette said:

“It promises to be more transparent, fair and effective and to address concerns and shortcomings with the existing policy which the ministry has deemed inefficient, slow and bureaucratic.”

Demands for land for landscaping, residential land and encroachment are addressed in the policy which provides a framework and guidelines for sustainable land management and sets out the qualifying criteria for land bank applicants, the land points system to guide allocation and the new land bank policy under the Comprehensive Housing Plan approved by government in 2017.

Under the new policy, applicants seeking residential land must satisfy ten (10) pre-defined criteria before they are deemed qualified to apply for state land.

The applicant must be aged 18 and above and have been residing in Seychelles for a continuous period of 3 years or more.

Only applications registered with the ministry for a period of 3 years minimum will be considered for allocation.

Furthermore, applicants are required to declare a partner or spouse and must demonstrate that they are in stable employment with a consistent flow of income of R15,000 minimum, whether single or combined.  

Applicants must also provide proof of ability to raise a mortgage of a minimum sum which is currently set at R800,000. This is to ensure that they can construct a dwelling within the five-year timeframe set by the ministry.

If the applicant or their partner/ spouse have been assisted by the government with housing, a housing loan or a residential plot of land, they will not qualify.

Also ineligible are applicants who already own land and property or who have some interest in immoveable properties.

If an applicant satisfies all ten criteria, the Land Point system (LPS) will be used to determine who will be prioritised.

This system is based on seven criteria including the applicant’s marital status, age, income and loan ability.

Each criterion has a fixed weighting that combine to add up to 100 points. The ministry will then make decisions to allocate land from the land bank based on who has more points.

It is important to note that land will be allocated on a regional basis.

Minister Charlette revealed that as from Monday August 20, applicants who have qualified will be contacted.

Land in the South region, namely Anse Royale, Baie Lazare and Takamaka, will be allocated first followed by Western regions, Central regions and finally the North and East regions.

Once a plot from the land bank has been allocated and the applicant has paid for the land within the prescribed timeframe, they will be presented with a land lease valid for 35 years.

However, the minister noted that a time limit of five years has been decided upon for the completion of the applicant’s home.

Upon completion of the residential property, the ministry will transfer ownership of the plot to the lessee at no extra costs.

Minister Charlette elaborated on the decision to grant a lease stating that this is a safeguard for the ministry.

“The lease allows us to have some control. We want to avoid issues that we’ve encountered in the past such as people buying land and not developing it or buying land and selling it for huge profits,” she said.

With regard to land for landscaping, the ministry will only consider requests for plots that are less than 200 square metres. Requests for landscaping plots above 200 square metres will only be considered on a lease basis.

Additionally, such plots will remain as a separate plot and no requests will be granted to adjoin the plot to private property.

According to the new policy, proprietors who intrude or construct on land owned by the government – encroachment -- will be sold the plot based on market rate. They will be given a specific time frame by the ministry to pay for the plot. This is to deter from such practices.

Minister Charlette concluded by stating that the ministry will be working closely with the media to communicate the new policy to citizens.

 

 

 

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