Casablanca – Morocco is pursuing a broader transformation of its housing policy, combining direct financial assistance for homebuyers with reforms to rental regulations, urban planning and programmes targeting rural households. The government’s direct housing assistance scheme has already benefited 127,707 people, while property acquisitions completed under the programme have reached an estimated $5.35 billion, supported by approximately $1.07 billion in public funding.

The latest figures, presented by Housing Minister Samir Belfkih before the House of Representatives on November 9, 2026, highlight the growing importance of the programme in the government’s efforts to facilitate access to homeownership. However, the authorities are also facing questions about payment delays, the gap between eligible applications and actual beneficiaries, and the programme’s ability to address housing affordability across different regions.

As of November 4, the scheme had registered 263,840 applications, of which 237,456 met the eligibility requirements. The number of beneficiaries stood at 127,707, meaning that a considerable proportion of eligible applications had yet to translate into completed assistance procedures or property acquisitions.

The government has allocated approximately $1.07 billion to the programme, while the combined value of homes purchased has reached around $5.35 billion. Public contributions therefore represent approximately one-fifth of the total value of acquisitions, although individual subsidy levels depend on the purchase price and the eligibility conditions applicable to each property.

The assistance system provides two main levels of support: approximately $10,200 for eligible buyers purchasing lower-priced properties and around $7,100 for those acquiring homes in the higher price category covered by the scheme. Through this mechanism, the government seeks to reduce the initial financial burden on households and facilitate access to residential property.

The programme has attracted beneficiaries from several population groups. Women account for 48% of recipients, while Moroccans living abroad represent 23%. People under the age of 40 make up 53% of beneficiaries, indicating that younger households constitute a significant proportion of those who have accessed the assistance.

The government aims to reach approximately 300,000 beneficiaries by the end of 2028. Achieving this objective will require continued processing of applications, effective payment procedures and sufficient housing supply at prices compatible with the programme’s eligibility requirements.

The distribution of beneficiaries suggests that the programme is reaching several segments of the population, although the government still needs to address the gap between approved applications and completed purchases. The distinction is important because eligibility does not automatically mean that a household has completed the acquisition process or received its financial contribution.

To address implementation difficulties, the government recently acknowledged delays caused by administrative and technical procedures, particularly the late publication of decrees authorising ministers to exercise signing powers. The issue had prevented the institution responsible for managing the assistance from completing certain payments.

The authorities subsequently announced the release of more than $30.5 million to settle most of the outstanding applications. The minister said the administrative obstacle had been overcome, although he did not specify when all delayed payments would be completed.

The ministry has also commissioned a comprehensive assessment of the programme’s first phase. The study is intended to examine its results, identify operational shortcomings and determine whether changes are necessary to improve the distribution of assistance. No formal revision of the subsidy amounts or eligibility requirements has yet been announced.

This assessment will be particularly important as the government seeks to increase the number of beneficiaries to approximately 300,000 by the end of 2028. Reaching that target will depend on the processing of pending applications, the availability of eligible housing and the ability of households to complete property purchases.

The programme’s development is taking place alongside wider changes in the housing market. The government is preparing reforms to rental legislation and property transactions, while considering new mechanisms to increase the supply of affordable housing for households that cannot immediately afford to purchase a property.

One of the proposed measures concerns the legal framework governing contractual relations between landlords and tenants in residential and professional premises. The ministry intends to introduce amendments to the existing regulations, although the precise provisions have not yet been disclosed.

Another proposed reform would update the rules governing the sale of properties under construction. The changes are expected to address aspects of the legal framework governing transactions between property developers and buyers before construction is completed.

In parallel, the government is preparing a national affordable rental housing programme. Its design will take into account an assessment of rental demand, the number of vacant properties available on the market and the financial conditions facing prospective tenants. The ministry is also working on the legal, tax and institutional arrangements required to implement the initiative.

These measures reflect an effort to broaden housing policy beyond ownership subsidies. While direct assistance can reduce the initial cost of purchasing a home, rental arrangements remain an important alternative for households that cannot meet the financial requirements of property acquisition.

A further component of the government’s strategy concerns rural housing, where construction and land-use regulations have created difficulties for households seeking to build their own homes.

The ministry plans to introduce a specific law governing urban planning in rural areas in 2027. The proposed legislation is intended to establish a regulatory framework better suited to rural settlements, where land arrangements, construction permits and access to technical studies can complicate residential projects.

As part of this initiative, the government is considering a programme targeting approximately 100,000 rural homes. Eligible households would receive financial assistance of around $4,120, accompanied by technical support and the studies required to carry out construction projects.

The proposed assistance is intended to address both the financial and administrative obstacles facing rural families. Unlike the existing programme, which focuses primarily on supporting property purchases, the rural initiative would also provide technical guidance to households building their own homes.

The ministry has not yet provided a detailed implementation timetable or explained how beneficiaries will be selected. However, the planned legislation and support scheme indicate that rural construction is becoming a more prominent component of national housing policy.

The initiative also forms part of a wider effort to reduce territorial disparities and improve access to housing outside the country’s largest cities.

The government is preparing a new national territorial planning and development framework extending to 2050. The strategy is intended to improve coordination between public policies, strengthen regional development planning and establish closer links between national priorities and regional investment programmes.

One of its objectives is to move towards a more flexible framework capable of taking account of economic, demographic and environmental changes.

The strategy places particular attention on intermediate-sized cities and smaller urban centres, which are expected to play a greater role in distributing economic activity and accommodating population growth.

Two national strategies have been identified in this area. The first covers 77 intermediate cities with a combined population of 8.47 million, representing 36.6% of Morocco’s urban population. The second concerns 292 smaller cities with approximately four million residents, equivalent to 17.4% of the urban population.

These categories account for a significant share of the country’s urban residents, underlining the importance of smaller and medium-sized cities in national territorial development.

The government’s approach is intended to strengthen their economic role and improve their ability to accommodate population growth, attract investment and provide essential services. Housing requirements, public facilities and infrastructure development are expected to form part of the planning priorities, particularly as these centres face increasing pressure to expand their residential and economic activities.

Urban planning coverage has also expanded. According to the figures presented by the housing minister, approximately 89.5% of Morocco’s national territory was covered by urban planning documents in 2026.

Since October 2021, authorities have approved 527 planning documents, including 339 urban development plans and 185 development plans for rural settlements, in addition to other strategic planning schemes. These documents establish rules for land use, construction and the expansion of residential and economic areas.

Digitalisation is another part of the proposed reforms. Through the Urban Planning V2 project, the ministry intends to introduce a multi-layered geographic information system to improve the management of planning procedures.

The initiative includes digitising preliminary assessments and public inquiries conducted by urban planning agencies, improving information exchange with the Ministry of Interior and connecting the system to the Rokhas platform used for administrative authorisations.

The government is also preparing new regulations covering public and private facilities serving the general interest, alongside implementing decrees for existing land development legislation and the establishment of regional urban planning and housing agencies.

Technical construction standards are also under review, particularly regulations governing plumbing, ventilation and earthquake-resistant buildings. These measures are intended to improve construction quality and safety while adapting the regulatory framework to current requirements.

Housing policy also continues to address inadequate living conditions in existing urban areas. Under the Cities Without Slums programme, authorities have improved the housing situation of 392,284 households out of an initial target of 514,224, representing an implementation rate of 76%.

The programme has required total investment estimated at approximately $7.83 billion, including around $1.75 billion contributed by the ministry.

Additional interventions targeting buildings at risk of collapse have covered 53,656 households and 27,401 buildings.

Reconstruction in areas affected by the Al Haouz earthquake is another component of the ministry’s work. Official figures indicate that construction has been completed on 53,075 homes, while 54,425 housing units have been returned to their families as part of the reconstruction process.

The ministry’s proposed 2027 budget is intended to finance these different programmes, alongside urban development, territorial planning and housing assistance.

The total allocation amounts to approximately $859.5 million. This includes around $643.2 million from the general state budget and approximately $216.3 million from the Solidarity Fund for Housing and Urban Integration.

Investment expenditure accounts for approximately $498.7 million, representing an increase of 1.97% compared with 2026. Personnel expenditure is estimated at $43.9 million, while equipment and other operating expenses account for approximately $100.6 million.

The ministry also reported that investment budget execution had reached 92% by November 9, compared with 96% for personnel expenditure and 71% for equipment and other operating expenses.

Another territorial development initiative focuses on 12 emerging urban centres and targets 44,779 households. The programme has a total budget of approximately $162.7 million, with the ministry contributing around $41.2 million.

The programme is designed to improve infrastructure and living conditions in smaller urban centres while supporting their economic and social development.

The ministry is also continuing a programme to preserve Morocco’s historic fortified villages and kasbahs. Under an agreement covering 2025–2030, the authorities plan to prepare integrated development and planning schemes for 100 priority settlements in 2027.

The programme also includes plans for a national observatory dedicated to these historic sites and a training centre specialising in construction techniques using locally available materials. Restoration work is continuing in four settlements in Figuig and Errachidia provinces, while a pilot project has been launched to install solar-powered public lighting in restored villages.

Overall, Morocco’s housing strategy is moving towards a broader framework combining homeownership assistance, affordable rental options, rural construction support and territorial development. The direct subsidy programme has already generated substantial property purchases, but its longer-term results will depend on how effectively eligible applications are converted into completed transactions and whether the housing supply matches the needs of different income groups.

The planned assessment of the first phase will provide an opportunity to examine the programme’s implementation and determine whether its current structure is sufficient to achieve the government’s 2028 target. Meanwhile, proposed changes to rental and urban planning regulations could reshape the environment for households, landlords, property developers and local authorities.

The central challenge will be to coordinate these different measures while ensuring that financial assistance translates into access to affordable, safe and adequately located housing. The government’s 2050 territorial planning framework, together with its 2026–2031 housing priorities, is expected to provide the broader structure for addressing these needs over the coming years.