The government has registered the Building Bill 2083 at the Federal Parliament Secretariat with the objective of legally ensuring the right to housing for every Nepali citizen.

The bill, prepared by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Development to amend the existing Building Act 2055, proposes various provisions aimed at ensuring housing access for families across different income groups.

The proposed legislation includes provisions to guarantee housing for low-income families and ensure safe, organized, and affordable housing for middle-income families. The government has stated that the bill is intended to fulfill its commitment to ensuring access to housing for every citizen and their families.

Under the proposed provisions, Nepali citizens constructing a house for the first time would receive necessary river-based and natural construction materials free of charge, subject to government-approved designs and construction standards. Similar free provision of required natural materials has also been proposed for citizens applying to construct cattle sheds.

To support poor and disadvantaged citizens, the bill proposes housing grants of up to Rs. 75,000, with Rs. 50,000 from the federal government and Rs. 25,000 from the provincial government.

The bill also proposes relocating disaster-prone, unsafe, and high-risk settlements to safer locations, with the government constructing new houses for affected residents.

For middle-income citizens, the proposed Building Act and regulations include provisions for safe, earthquake-resistant smart homes meeting basic construction standards. The proposed homes would cost between Rs. 2 million and Rs. 7.5 million, with a plinth area ranging from approximately 900 to 1,300 square feet.

Citizens would be able to acquire such homes through concessional loans. Under the initial proposal, homes could be obtained by making an advance payment of Rs. 500,000 and paying approximately Rs. 11,000 per month for 15 years.

Other proposed payment options include:

Rs. 1 million advance with Rs. 15,000 monthly installments
Rs. 1.5 million advance with Rs. 20,000 monthly installments
Rs. 2 million advance with Rs. 30,000 monthly installments
Rs. 2.5 million advance with Rs. 35,000 monthly installments

Through these provisions, the government aims to establish a legal framework that guarantees housing for low-income citizens while providing safe, organized, and affordable housing options for middle-income families.