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Eighteen families in Pointe-aux-Piments have moved a step closer to their dream of owning a home after receiving keys from the Minister of Housing and Lands, the honourable Shakeel Mohamed on 28 October 2026. The handover, under the Rent-to-Own scheme, provides an alternative for households unable to secure conventional housing finance, while giving them an opportunity to work towards ownership.
Addressing Ministry and NHDC officials, the minister said families unable to secure bank loans should not be denied housing, citing a household facing financial hardship and disability.
A clearer path to ownership
Hon. Shakeel Mohamed made clear that access to Rent-to-Own is not automatic. Families must first apply for a loan to purchase a home whose cost, within this project, is maintained at around Rs 900,000. If a bank refuses financing, the next option is the NHDC mortgage arrangement, which is intended to offer greater flexibility.
The minister also said discussions were under way on bank guarantees, including with SBM, to help facilitate access to finance. These discussions should not be confused with guarantees already available to every applicant.
Where the mortgage option remains inaccessible, Rent-to-Own offers another route. Beneficiaries pay approximately Rs 4,000 a month for five years, after which their circumstances are reassessed to determine whether they can obtain a mortgage or loan. Part of the monthly payments may then be taken into account in the financing arrangement.
Receiving keys therefore does not amount to an immediate transfer of ownership or a guarantee of future financing. The scheme combines access to a home now with a later assessment of the household’s ability to progress towards ownership.
A wider housing programme
The 18 beneficiary families in Pointe-aux-Piments form part of a planned total of 36 Rent-to-Own homes, with further units envisaged in Malherbes, Notre-Dame, Valetta and Henrietta. Around 600 applications were under examination at the time of the announcement.
Shakeel Mohamed also identified the regularisation of unauthorised occupation on state and private land as a priority. He said this work would require coordination with several authorities, including the ministries responsible for finance and social security, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister.
A stronger foundation at home
For the families receiving keys, having a home means greater security and a chance to work towards ownership. Helping Mauritian families build more stable lives also strengthens the country’s appeal to foreigners looking to stay, settle or buy a home. The stability and calmer lifestyle that attract them gain greater meaning when local families can share in those benefits.
