The Ministry of Construction and Housing specified on Thursday (May 7, 2026) precise criteria for the process of squatters' ownership of state lands, confirming that the decision includes only residential buildings constructed before December 10, 2024.
The Ministry explained in an official statement that any new building erected after this date is considered a flagrant violation of the law, and will not be owned under any circumstances, while emphasizing the taking of deterrent measures against new violators.
It indicated that specialized committees will study squatting files with extreme care to ensure their compliance with the specified conditions before making any legal ownership decision.
The residential squatting file is one of the most complex files in Iraq, where the phenomenon of informal construction has worsened in recent years due to the wide housing gap, rapid population growth, and weak government oversight.
