Baghdad Investment Authority Fee Policy Draws Complaints in Besmaya Complex

Hundreds of citizens applying to buy apartments in the Besmaya housing complex, southeast of Baghdad, have complained about delays in the Investment Authority’s allocation process and the demand for additional fees. Applicants say the charges amount to money collection under a legal cover and are not included in the sales contract. The fee structure reportedly charges 5 million dinar for ground-floor units, 2 million dinar for apartments on the 1st-3rd floors, and 500,000 dinar for units on the 4th-6th floors, while upper floors are free. The ground floor is generally said to be reserved for public employees and members of parliament. Some applicants have been waiting in line since 2 a.m. to submit their applications. They also said banks are creating difficulties in issuing loan contracts, adding to the delays. Delivery of the apartments is expected to take 1-2 months, according to the applicants’ accounts of the process.