Housing developers ‘shocked’ by GAM endorsement of building by-law

AMMAN — Housing investors have protested the Greater Amman Municipality’s (GAM) endorsement of the 2017 building by-law before the conclusion of discussions of draft provisions.

Zuhair Omari, president of the Jordan Housing Developers Association (JHDA), said negotiations which started earlier this month have considered investors’ demands on 20 provisions that regulate matters related to “objects, not humans”.

Meanwhile, he said all involved parties agreed to postpone discussions of more important provisions which directly affect people until after Eid Al Fitr holiday.

However, the GAM committee in charge endorsed the 2017 building by-law on Tuesday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

“We are extremely shocked that GAM’s committee has endorsed the by-law before the conclusion of discussions,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone on Saturday, adding that the JHDA did not receive any official notice from GAM regarding the issue.

The sector representative cited three major issues that investors demand be changed in the by-law.

Under the current by-law, the housing apartments must be at least 110 square metres in classifications B, C and D, and 130 square metres in classification A, an issue Omari said limits buyers’ options and does not address their demands.

He explained that newly-weds, for example, do not need such big apartments, noting that other countries in the region have “huge” projects, with apartments as small as 60 square metres, that address young people’s needs.

He added that 35 per cent of Jordanians who bought apartments in 2016 chose apartments that are smaller than 120 square metres.

Another issue Omari pointed to is the increasing taxation and customs fees, as well as violation penalties, an issue he said authorities have refused to discuss with sector representatives, noting that fees reach 30 per cent of sector revenues.

In addition, housing developers have demanded the inclusion of a provision that allows owners to complete building rooftops with brick tiling, he said, adding that allowing that would “add beauty to buildings”.

Other issues that developers demanded to be discussed include the number of floors, building setbacks, balconies and transportation solutions, he noted. 

Officials at GAM were not available for comment despite repeated attempts by The Jordan Times.