Stalled Home Construction Leaves Buyers Frustrated
The beneficiaries of the Manara 2 housing project, managed by Badr Housing Company and located near the Seraghna Cemetery (close to Marjane on the Casablanca road) in the Gueliz district of Marrakech, have been awaiting their homes for an excruciating five years. Many have invested substantial amounts, some reaching as high as 1.5 million dirhams. This project comprises two phases, and construction on the second phase has only reached 65% completion, raising numerous concerns among buyers, many of whom are renters grappling with the pressures of age that hinder their ability to secure housing loans. These loans come with monthly payments that weigh heavily on their daily lives.
Notably, the second phase, which has completed its sales on paper and design, is situated near an agricultural plot and close to makeshift huts, where residents are adamant about remaining in their homes. This situation raises alarms about the prolonged wait for customers who are hopeful for their promised housing. The buildings, designed to be three stories high, have had their major construction completed, yet they await the final touches that may or may not materialize.
Local Authorities Silent Amidst Growing Frustration
Compounding the issue is the apparent inaction from local authorities, who have not intervened to urge the project owner to finish the construction and deliver the apartments to the owners. These individuals are increasingly distressed by the rising costs of rent and everyday living expenses, exacerbated by the exorbitant price hikes observed since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, which some have exploited to amass significant wealth.
Numerous beneficiaries of this housing initiative have reported that their attempts to contact the company’s headquarters in Casablanca at the number 0522994006, as well as the Badr Housing group in Marrakech at 06617640 and 0661086244, have gone unanswered, leaving them without satisfactory responses.
The Manara project, once a beacon of hope for many, has now devolved into a collection of abandoned buildings or newly constructed ruins, while the sales office that once offered sweet promises to clients has vanished, having assured them that their apartments would be ready soon after construction was completed. The project owner's procrastination and unjustifiable delays in delivering the homes have led to a sense of despair among the beneficiaries, who have yet to take action, unlike other affected projects in the city. They continue to wait for local authorities to step in and uphold their rights, especially since they had previously received assurances from the project owner about the timely delivery of their apartments. However, the situation has remained stagnant since 2019.
As their struggles intensify and their social conditions deteriorate, described as dire, many beneficiaries have sacrificed their homes and invested all their finances into the project, only to find the owner has seemingly disappeared, failing to fulfill his commitments. Some beneficiaries are now discussing plans to coordinate protests outside the housing project and at the headquarters of the Marrakech-Safi region to demand the delivery of their delayed apartments.
As reported by marrakechalyaoum.com.
