Egypt launches digital system for property ownership transfers in social housing units

Egypt’s Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities has introduced a new digital service allowing citizens to complete property ownership transfers for residential, commercial, and administrative units electronically, in a step aimed at accelerating service delivery and expanding digital transformation across the housing sector.

 

The service, implemented through the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund, enables users to submit and process transfer requests via new city authorities and governorate housing directorates without the need to visit the fund’s headquarters in Cairo.

 

According to the fund, the system is fully integrated and connects new city agencies with the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund’s central database, allowing ownership transfer approvals to be processed electronically in a more streamlined and transparent manner.

 

The fund clarified that transfers are permitted after eight years from the date of unit delivery, or upon approval from the financing entity, or after full repayment of mortgage obligations and issuance of a clearance certificate in line with regulatory rules.

 

Applicants are required to submit key documents including proof of full payment or bank clearance, a copy of the unit handover report, the sales contract, national ID copies for both parties, and financing settlement documents where applicable. In inheritance cases, legal inheritance documentation is required, along with guardianship approval if minors are involved.

 

The fund also outlined a fee structure for transfers, including 1 percent of the unit value for first-degree relatives (with a minimum of LE5,000), and 10 percent for non-relatives, in addition to 1 percent payable to new city authorities and 5 percent maintenance fees as stipulated in contracts.

 

Dedicated staff will handle applications at new city authorities and housing directorates, where they will verify documents and upload complete files electronically in PDF format.

 

Applicants will receive SMS notifications tracking the status of their requests, while the fund will review submissions and issue approvals or rejections with reasons through the digital system.

 

The initiative is part of broader efforts by the government to digitize public services, enhance efficiency, and strengthen governance and transparency in Egypt’s housing sector.