Iraqi to allow Squatters to Buy Property

By John Lee.

The Iraqi Council of Ministers (Cabinet) has approved a framework to legalise ownership of municipal land occupied by informal settlers (squatters) before December 10, 2024.

The decision includes specific terms to ensure fair and regulated sales under Law No. 21 of 2013.

Key provisions:

1. Land Sales: Municipal authorities in Baghdad and other provinces can sell officially subdivided land to settlers who built permanent housing on it, bypassing public auctions.
2. Eligibility Criteria:
   • Land must lie within master plan boundaries.
   • Structures must be permanent.
   • Sales are limited to the current occupant or their dependents.
   • Applicants must file a request within 180 working days of new regulations.
   • Buyers must declare they or their dependents do not own other residential property.
   • Sale prices are determined by a valuation committee, bypassing auctions.
3. Restrictions:
   • Only one property per applicant can be sold.
   • Kirkuk is excluded from the decision.
4. Enforcement: Committees in Baghdad and provinces will remove encroachments on municipal land following this decision.

(Source: PMO)