Ownership Dynamics of Low-Income Households Under Iran’s Mehr Housing Policy (IMHP): The Case Study of 13 IMHP Residential Complexes in Babol and Babolsar, Iran

Abstract

Iran’s Mehr Housing Policy (IMHP), implemented since 2007, represents the Iranian government’s most extensive intervention aimed at providing affordable housing for over two million low-income households. This study examines the effectiveness of IMHP as a homeownership-centric model through a case study of 13 IMHP residential complexes in Babol and Babolsar (3,031 units). Using quantitative methods, including field surveys and statistical analysis, the research reveals significant gaps between policy objectives and outcomes, with only 27% of units remaining occupied by target beneficiaries. The findings show that some low-income owners rented out their units (23%) or resold them in the informal market (26%) despite resale restrictions. The study advocates for context-based, mixed-tenure solutions that integrate ownership and rental options while accounting for informal housing dynamics.