Residential housing development in Kurdistan region government of Iraqi federal

Abstract

The demand for residential buildings has become very crucial in Kurdistan (KRG). The housing problems in Kurdistan has escalated since 2003. The problems of delay, political, deflation and inflation and also the number of housing projects being abandoned or left uncompleted has been the main concern of the government. The aim of this study is to assess the housing developing policy and the problems faced by the housing developers in KRG. The objectives of the study are to assess the KRG's housing development policy, to evaluate the types of house and the price range preferred by the potential buyer, to investigate the method of houses to be build and delivered to the potential buyer and to assess the problems faced by developers of residential houses. The study is carried out in the region of KRG. The study focus on private housing development projects. The study is carried out by questionnaires and interviews. The respondents are the house buyers and the developers. A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents and 78 questionnaires were returned duly answered. The data collected is analysed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) and Average Index. From the study, it was found that the KRG’s housing development policy covers the ownership of the project land, full repatriation of project investment and profits allowed, import of spare parts tax exempt up to 15% of project cost and the employment of foreign workers allowed. The types of house preferred by the house buyers are of double storey type and to be of corner lot. The price range preferred by the potential buyers are between USD 40,000 to USD100,000 The method of house delivery preferred by the potential buyers are to construct their own houses rather than to purchase from the developers. The problems faced by developers of residential houses are delay, housing market demand and financial resources.