Iran has allocated 70,300 rural land plots and uploaded data for 320,000 housing units under the Housing Foundation’s Seventh Development Plan mandate, its head, Manouchehr Khajeh-Dalouei, announced at the signing of a financing deal with Resalat Bank for the “Home of Hope” scheme.
The foundation faces land shortages in many villages. Khajeh-Dalouei said natural resources are often insufficient, forcing officials to seek agreements with private owners. A directive was drafted, but the Court of Administrative Justice flagged ambiguities, suspending implementation. Officials are now redrafting the legal framework to resume owner agreements and distribute residential shares to rural applicants.
Under Home of Hope, 200,000 units are planned for disadvantaged households, with work started on about 105,000. Applicants must be from vulnerable groups and must not have previously used government housing support—their “Form J” must be green. Land is provided free, with the Ministry of Transport and Urban Development responsible in existing and new cities.
The Housing Foundation has signed an MOU with the National Land and Housing Organization for 50,000 units, including 25,000 in new cities. Unlike centralized projects, applicants participate directly in construction; the foundation handles permits and technical follow-up with the Construction Engineering Organization. Specific structural systems have also been designed so applicants can use them if they wish. Khajeh-Dalouei described direct participation as a main feature of the scheme, adding that it is progressing at an appropriate pace.
Support is planned for families covered by the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee and State Welfare Organization: grants of 400 million toman per unit. Agreements this year cover 52,000 units, with 44,000 under the Relief Committee. Officials hope the new legal framework will unlock land in most villages and accelerate the rural housing drive.
