NLHDF welcomes land ordinance

KATHMANDU: Nepal Land and Housing Developers’ Federation (NLHDF) has welcomed the Council of Ministers’ approval of the Land Ordinance, Ninth Amendment – 2082. It said the recommendation to President Ramchandra Paudel for authentication will provide long‑awaited relief to the real estate sector.

The federation said the ordinance, once authenticated, will allow businesses to sell and distribute housing and apartments that have been unsellable because of the land ceiling, and will enable buyers to transfer ownership into their name and receive the land ownership registration certificate (Lal Purja).

“We sincerely thank the current Government and the Prime Minister for fulfilling the long‑standing demand raised by NLHDF, albeit belatedly,” the federation said in a statement.

NLHDF estimated that property worth approximately Rs 200 billion belonging to businesses has been held up by the prohibition on property sales, citing the land ceiling. The federation said this has caused problems for developers, customers and banks that have invested in projects, and has contributed to a decline in employment.

The statement issued by NLHDF said that stagnation in the real estate sector has also hit related industries, including cement, rebar, brick, timber, aluminium, gravel and sand, and has increased youth unemployment. “Once the real estate sector becomes vibrant, all sectors will become active, helping to revitalise the nation’s economy,” NLHDF said.

The federation also urged the government to address delays by local authorities in land classification, which it said have led to intermittent opening and stopping of plotting or subdivision of land. NLHDF called for a permanent solution to the issue and said the ordinance, introduced after the government recognised business concerns, will benefit both businesses and the state as a whole.