Background on Claudia Sheinbaum and Infonavit
Claudia Sheinbaum is the current President of Mexico City, serving since 2018. She has been instrumental in various urban development projects and housing initiatives within the city. The Fondo Nacional de la Vivienda para los Trabajadores (Infonavit) is a Mexican government-owned mortgage finance institution that provides housing credit to workers. It is a crucial entity in addressing housing issues for the working class.
Infonavit’s Plan to Regularize Abandoned or Invaded Housing
During her morning press conference on Wednesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum clarified that the Infonavit’s proposal to regularize abandoned or invaded housing would not affect private property rights nor the credits of those who continue paying their loans.
Sheinbaum’s Assurance on Property Rights
“Let there be no misinterpretations: constitutionally, private property is protected,” emphasized Sheinbaum.
Current Status of Abandoned Housing
Sheinbaum explained that a census is currently underway to determine the status of approximately 800,000 abandoned houses in the country. These properties were built during previous administrations in remote areas without essential services, which led to their abandonment by workers or irregular occupation.
The massive abandonment of these houses is a result of fraudulent and erroneous practices, where housing developments were constructed without considering proximity to workplaces or minimal habitability conditions.
- Many of these houses were sold up to five times, causing fraud.
- In other cases, workers left because the houses were too far away and could not be rented out.
The government has already invested millions of pesos in unsuccessful attempts to recover these properties through external agencies.
Infonavit’s Program: Rent with Option to Buy
Infonavit Director Octavio Romero Oropeza recently detailed a plan that would allow irregular occupants to rent with the option to buy these houses, even if they are not Infonavit clients. So far, 168,000 troubled properties have been censused; of these, 145,000 are occupied irregularly and 23,000 are vandalized or completely abandoned.
“If there are irregular occupants, we will not evict them, but we will inform them that if they do not regularize their status, they will never become owners,” said Romero. He also mentioned that original homeowners who abandoned the properties due to unpaid loans or poor conditions will receive assistance to find a fair solution.
Seeking Legal and Fair Alternatives
Sheinbaum reiterated that any action would be taken with full respect for the law and workers’ rights. The census aims to clearly define each property’s legal status and make informed decisions.
“We cannot ignore the reality of 800,000 built but largely unoccupied houses,” Sheinbaum stated from Palacio Nacional. “Our government plans to construct over a million new homes during the six-year term, making it essential to resolve existing housing issues.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Infonavit plan about? The plan aims to regularize abandoned or invaded housing, allowing irregular occupants to rent with the option to buy.
- Will this plan affect existing property rights or credits? No, the plan will not impact private property rights or the credits of those who continue paying their loans.
- How many abandoned houses are being censused? Approximately 800,000 abandoned houses are being censused.
- What is the goal of the census? The census aims to determine each property’s legal status and make informed decisions regarding their regularization.
- What assistance will original homeowners receive? Original homeowners who abandoned properties due to unpaid loans or poor conditions will receive assistance to find a fair solution.
