Egypt’s Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities is preparing to launch around 5,000 fully completed housing units under a rent-to-own scheme across 25 new cities within the next month, as part of efforts to diversify housing options and expand access to affordable homes.
Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Randa El-Menshawy said the initiative reflects the ministry’s strategy to introduce more flexible housing mechanisms alongside traditional homeownership programmes, offering solutions that better match the financial capabilities and social needs of different segments of society.
The completed units, which vary in size, are expected to accelerate reservation, allocation, contracting and handover procedures. El-Menshawy said the programme forms part of a broader vision to develop Egypt’s rental housing system, maximise the utilisation of completed housing assets and provide sustainable residential solutions.
She added that 5% of the units will be allocated to persons with disabilities who meet the eligibility criteria, in line with the ministry’s commitment to promoting inclusion and equal opportunities.
Deputy Minister for New Urban Communities Walid Abbas said eligible applicants will be selected through a public lottery to ensure transparency and equal opportunity. Applications will be submitted based on the governorate listed on the applicant’s national ID card, while those whose governorates do not include eligible units may apply for the nearest participating city.
According to the ministry, the rent-to-own period will extend for 20 years from the date of handover, during which beneficiaries will pay monthly rent and maintenance fees in accordance with each project’s payment system.
Applicants must be between 21 and 45 years old, be legally eligible to enter into contracts, and neither they nor their spouses or minor children may have previously owned or been allocated a housing unit or land plot, whether subsidised or unsubsidised.
The ministry said income limits, monthly rents, maintenance fees and other allocation conditions will be detailed in the official terms and conditions booklet to be released ahead of the launch.
