Rental housing in Morocco - Market Study - Full Report

In 2014, approximately 1.3 million households in Morocco were renters, most (96%) in urban areas.  This is according to the Haut-Commissariat au Plan, General population and housing census (RGPH). 2014.  On further investigation, the Affordable Housing Institute found that the majority of renters let their homes from individual landlords, often as sub-lets.  Very few renters in Morocco actually rent from institutions.  About one fifth of Moroccans live in apartments – though not all of these rent.  The government’s social housing programme has had a significant impact on the Moroccan rental market with 15% living in the 600 000+ units delivered.  Some of these are also sublets.  Much of the rental market is invisible, however – undocumented and therefore also unregulated.  It appears as though rents are high, consuming a significant proportion of monthly household income.

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the policy and regulatory framework governing affordable housing in Morocco and begins to explore some of the factors shaping the rental market in particular.  A first step, the study highlights the significance of the rental market and suggests that it is ripe for further growth and development.  More research is needed, and we need more up to date data to truly understand Morocco’s rental sector, but this report provides a very useful overview.

This study was presented at the High Level Conference on Affordable and Sustainable Housing Finance, held in Rabat, Morocco, on 28 January 2025.