Morocco's 2027 Budget Bill Sets Up National Affordable Rental Housing Programme

Morocco's draft 2027 finance bill introduces a national affordable rental housing programme aimed at students, young professionals, newly formed households and workers relocating for employment, details presented by Minister of Economy and Finance Fouzi Lekjaa show.

Under the plan, the government will mobilise public land for housing operators, who will be required to comply with rent ceilings and keep the properties available for rental over a defined period. Authorities intend to prioritise sites near universities, employment centres and public transport networks. Rental levels, unit numbers and the implementation timetable are to be announced later.

The bill places heavy emphasis on student accommodation. Government estimates put the shortfall at nearly 400,000 student beds against current capacity of around 130,000, of which roughly 60,000 are in public facilities. To narrow the gap, the state plans to lean on private investment and public-private partnerships, with projects selected through a call for expressions of interest expected to add 11,000 beds in university residences.

The government is also preparing to extend its direct housing assistance programme beyond 2028 following an independent evaluation, with the objective of reaching at least 300,000 cumulative beneficiaries. By the end of September 2026, more than 314,000 applications had been submitted and 128,000 grants disbursed.

Beyond urban rental housing, the draft budget provides for upgrading or building 100,000 homes in rural areas over five years, particularly in emerging rural centres and underserved regions. The programme will be accompanied by new legislation on rural urban planning intended to simplify construction procedures and promote housing models suited to local conditions and safety requirements.