Senate Approves Housing Law Reform Requiring 'Habitable and Hygienic Spaces' Victor Mayen - The News
go to original December 29, 2014

Poor neighborhoods are often the only place Mexicans with little education and little money can build better lives. (Al Jazeera)

MEXICO CITY – The Senate approved reforms to the Housing Law so that beneficiaries of loans for houses with social interest acquire a place that abides by the minimal conditions necessary for a healthy lifestyle.

The Senate passed the reforms with 84 votes in favor and proposed to expand the concept of decent housing to include concepts of habitable and healthy spaces as imperative elements for quality of life.

The bill emphasizes that decent housing should adhere to regulations on human settlements and construction norms, as well as provide access to basic services, at least one space that gives privacy to the dwellers.

A decent house requires habitable and hygienic spaces that give the residents an opportunity to rest, spend time with their families, work and should be big enough to allow the free movement of people, said the senators.

The purpose of the reform to the Housing Law is to stop overcrowding, a social problem that is generally connected to poverty. Overcrowding occurs when two or more people inhabit a single room that could be the entire house.

Article 4 establishes that houses should have spaces fit to live in, including areas in which inhabitants can gather with other people or to rest. These spaces should also have a minimum area, height, ventilation and natural light, as well as a minimum of one bathroom, kitchen, dining room and two bedrooms.

The bill has been sent to the Chamber of Deputies for its revision.

See the original at The News

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