Parliament Research Center: 6 Deciles of Society Have Lost Access to Housing

The Parliament Research Center has reported on the increase in the deciles excluded from the housing market, stating that deciles one to three are absolutely unable to secure housing, while deciles three to five and even part of the sixth decile are relatively unable to meet their housing needs. In a report titled 'Analysis of Housing Policies in Five-Year Development Plans,' it emphasized that repeated surges in housing prices in the late 2010s caused 'the number of deciles unable to purchase a house' to double compared to the beginning of that decade. Accordingly, the four decades of government planning in the housing sector have not been favorable for low-income groups, particularly in large cities, where this group has been the loser of ineffective decisions. Investigations have shown that the groups benefiting from housing policies have not primarily included the first to third income deciles or vulnerable groups such as orphans and individuals with special needs. A review of the Parliament Research Center's report by Voice of America indicates that four decades of housing policy have ultimately made it more difficult for households to secure housing. Consequently, the production of affordable housing has sharply decreased, and according to the parliamentary research arm, the waiting time for homeownership has reached nearly 50 years. The Parliament Research Center also reported on June 8 about the critical housing situation in Tehran, with prices increasing by '950 percent' over the past five years. During the electoral campaign, Ebrahim Raisi promised to build one million housing units per year. An analysis of housing market developments and reports by Voice of America shows that in the past two years, not only was no housing delivered, but prices also doubled, leading to a price of 70 million tomans per square meter in Tehran. The Engineering Organization also announced in July of this year that the construction costs for seven building groups in 2023 increased by 38 to 48 percent compared to the previous year, with a doubling compared to 2021. The website 'Tejarat News' also reported on August 7, on the occasion of the second anniversary of Ebrahim Raisi's government, that housing prices have increased by 109 percent in two years, reaching over 65 million tomans per square meter. The newspaper 'Donya-e-Eqtesad' published in Tehran also wrote in May that the population suffering from 'housing poverty' in Iran has reached a 'significant record,' with '55 percent' of Iranian households deprived of 'adequate and affordable housing.' The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance provided statistics on the broadcast of 'Gheymeh'; government officials are thinking about an Islamic government, while people suffer from poverty. The performance of Raisi's government is halfway through; housing has increased nearly 110 percent in two years. The housing situation in Iran is critical; providing statistics on housing has become a security issue. Criticism of Raisi's government has increased; media reports indicate a 'regression to the past' accompanied by a severe decline in public services. The outcome of Raisi's economic promises is approaching the third year of his government; he has failed to achieve his goals.