Engineer Amr Khattab, spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Housing, emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing strict penalties against unauthorized rental or sale of social housing units. Speaking with TV host Karima Awad on the program Hadith Al-Qahira on Cairo & Al-Nas channel, Khattab stated that violators may face a prison sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to 100,000 EGP if they are found to have sold or rented out their social housing units.
He explained that the state offers substantial financial support to help citizens obtain social housing at reduced prices and on installment plans, covering around 50% of the unit’s cost. This aid is intended to assist individuals in need of affordable housing, not for commercial gain. “There is no room for profiteering from these housing units,” Khattab stressed, calling on the public to report any instances of social housing misuse.
Khattab noted that social housing units cannot be sold or rented to others before the legally specified holding period, generally between 5 to 7 years. If units are found to be rented or sold within this timeframe, the Ministry will take legal action and reclaim the property. Citizens can report misuse through official contact numbers or via the Social Housing Fund’s website.