Some illegal occupants move out as NHDC’s deadline looms

The days of illegal occupants of government quarters seem to be numbered.

After National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC) issued a notification early this year calling upon illegal occupants to surrender their units to avoid strict actions, three people have voluntarily surrendered their apartments.

And for those who haven’t heeded the warning,  the deadline to move out (December 31) is upon them.

After the deadline, strict inspections of government quarters will start in Thimphu. The officiating general manager of the real estate division of NHDC, Dechen Wangdi, said that during the inspection, they will carry the lease agreement, which has the pictures of rightful occupants.

Any illegal occupant caught during the inspection, he said, will be immediately evicted and fined double the rent of the apartment for the period he or she has occupied it.

Dechen Wangdi said subletting is a big concern not only in Thimphu, but also in other dzongkhags.

NHDC has 306 units in seven dzongkhags, 1,145 units in Thimphu and 60 in Phuentsholing.

“Currently we are just considering it [inspection] in Thimphu, but we will gradually go to other dzongkhag,” said the allotment officer, Dorji Lham.

NHDC charges Nu 3.5 per square feet, which is considerably cheaper than private houses.

This, according to Dechen Wangdi, is the reason for subletting the apartments. He said people put up applications for housing, and when their turn comes, even if they are not in need of an apartment, they never reject government quarters.

NHDC provides apartments on a first-come-first-serve basis. For the upper class apartments, applications date back to 1994 and for the lower income housing, applications date back to 2002. NHDC has more than 2,500 applications with it, and every day it receives four to five applications for housing.

The lease agreement for government quarters is renewed every two years. Whoever does not renew the agreement will be treated as an illegal occupant.

NHDC signed the lease agreements with the occupants last year. It plans to increase the rent when the agreement is renewed after two years. The rents for government quarters were last fixed in 2002.

From January 2012, all government quarters in the country will be taken over and allotted by NHDC.

By Tandin Pem

4 Responses to “Some illegal occupants move out as NHDC’s deadline looms”

1. Yeshe Dorji says:

   January 3, 2012 at 10:26 am

   Thanks to NHDC for their firm initiatives. Till now we had been robbed by the private house owners not considering the unaffordability of the tenants but seeing only their profits.

   It is yet another good news to hear that from January 2012, all government quarters in the country will be taken over and allotted by NHDC.

   Reply
2. yangzom says:

   January 5, 2012 at 2:48 pm

   what the govt should do is instead of renting to the govt employees. They should sell it to employees on installment so that once it is sold then there is no headache of illegal or legal occupants. Like this, the cat and mouse hide and seek game will continue, the govt wont be able to see to it all the time as we bhutanese lack in implementing and controlling.

   Reply
3. JIGME DORJI says:

   January 14, 2012 at 5:21 pm

   It took alot time for NHDC to clear up the problems but atleast it could bring a small contribution to the needy people.I can say only 20% of the job is done,rest still in doubt.When built by the govt. it was said that it will be provided to the employees whose income is low and couldnt meet the living in the capital but atlast it was an officially business for the powered employees.They pay a sum of 1800 to 2500 to the govt. and get it rented at the cost of 4000 to 5000(example)

   Reply
4. Phub Gyeltshen[wednesday]. says:

   January 22, 2012 at 9:43 am

   Thank you National Housing Develpoment Coporation.Hope investigation could bring out fruitful result and this suports Gross National Happiness.

   Reply