“Currently, there are more than 500 thousand undocumented houses in Azerbaijan. Although there have been initiatives regarding the solution to this issue at various times, a systematic and comprehensive reform is needed. Today, our citizens living in undocumented houses cannot register.”
elchi reports citing yenisabah that these words were spoken by MP Kamal Jafarov at today’s session of the Milli Majlis. He stated that undocumented houses are still sold for 20-30 percent less than their value today:
“Because they cannot register, they do not have full access to state services in their area. They cannot get gas connected to their homes. Those whose family head has passed away do not automatically recognize inheritance rights. Children cannot inherit legally. During a divorce, they cannot claim housing rights because they lose them. And undocumented houses are currently sold for 20-30 percent less than their value. They are not accepted as collateral by banks, so in some cases, citizens cannot turn their homes into capital to start a small business.
I think this is a very complex issue, and my colleagues have had various speeches and approaches at different times. There are indeed many risky aspects to the responsibility of this issue. However, there is world experience regarding undocumented houses, for example, the experience of brotherly Turkey. In Turkey, within the framework of the Zoning Peace (İmar Barışı) law in 2018, more than 7 million undocumented houses received title deeds by paying an initial fee of 3 percent of their value.
We can also apply a similar experience. It is a fact that title deeds can be issued for undocumented houses, excluding those in protection zones for transport and energy lines, risky areas, strategic lands, and disputed houses. This will create billions of manats in additional and competitive value in our economy, including the budget. Therefore, I propose that there should be an amnesty in urban planning and architecture for undocumented houses, a special program should be prepared regarding this, and this issue should be solved in stages.”