Egypt’s prime minister, Mustafa Madbouli, has ordered a nationwide survey of buildings at risk of collapse, calling for an accurate database and a clear mechanism to tackle the problem, following a spate of recent accidents.
Madbouli said a new component may be added to the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund to provide replacement homes for residents forced to leave unsafe buildings.
He cited the government’s earlier success in clearing unplanned and hazardous areas.
The directive was issued at a meeting, attended by Minister of Local Development Manal Awad; Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Sherif El-Sherbini; Housing Ministry Advisor Nafisa Hashem; Head of the National Housing and Building Research Centre Mohamed Massoud; and Chairman of the Technical Inspection Authority for Construction Haddad Saeed.
A cabinet statement said Awad presented a preliminary survey of unsafe units, while El-Sherbini outlined the main causes of structural failures.
These included poor maintenance in old rental properties; tenants refusing to vacate unsafe homes — a problem now addressed by the new Rental Law No. 164/2025; substandard construction materials; and illegal floors added in violation of permits.
El-Sherbini said the government’s broader strategy included mandatory tenants’ associations, enforcement of demolition and reinforcement orders, and activating inspection committees in each governorate.
Hashem presented a three-stage plan: carrying out existing demolition and restoration orders within 6–12 months; inspecting buildings more than 75 years old within two and a half years; and checking those aged 50–75 within two years.
She also urged the formation of temporary technical committees to expedite inspections of high-risk properties, with decisions to be issued within 30 days, in addition to regular visual surveys tailored to each building’s age, condition, and exposure.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
