The Ministry of Equipment and Housing has sounded the alarm: more than 2,000 buildings are now considered to be in danger of ruin in several regions of the country. A worrying figure, revealed Tuesday, November 11 by Moncef Soudani, director of Housing Improvement, during an intervention on National Radio.
Tunis and Monastir, the most exposed
According to ministry data, the capital alone concentrates more than 1,000 weakened buildings, followed by Monastir (550), Bizerte (300), Nabeul (300), Jendouba (175) and Kairouan (100). These figures reflect a long-standing structural deterioration, amplified by the lack of maintenance and the dilapidation of the buildings.
Safety inspections have already been initiated to assess the stability of buildings and plan priority interventions. “In Tunis alone, more than 500 checks have been carried out, and the majority of buildings present an imminent and confirmed risk,” Soudani said.
Demolitions to be expected
The official stressed that some homes, particularly those belonging to former foreign owners, have reached “the end of their lifespan” and can no longer be repaired. Their demolition is therefore inevitable.
On a legal level, Tunisian law requires owners to ensure the necessary repairs. In the event of a failure, the municipality intervenes at the expense of the owner, in order to avoid any danger for the occupants and local residents.
Towards a new legal framework in 2026
To better regulate the management of buildings in danger, the ministry has submitted three regulatory texts to the Prime Ministry for approval. These texts provide for an agreement between owners and municipalities on repair responsibilities, an agreement between the ministry and owners for the monitoring of interventions, the creation of a commission responsible for the relocation of the families concerned and the monitoring of risk situations.
The ministry hopes to see these texts validated from 2026, in order to accelerate the security of the aging real estate stock and prevent new tragedies.
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