Housing Regularization for 30K Families in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Municipal authorities estimate that approximately 90,000 people, representing around 30,000 families, currently live in irregular human settlements within the urban boundaries of Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras. These settlements could begin regularization processes during the current municipal administration, according to a diagnosis prepared by the Directorate of Housing and Regularization.

The director of the area, Alberto Farfán Bravo, reported that during the first two months of work, a comprehensive diagnosis of the city has been developed. This was based on direct attention to residents seeking legal advice and on visits to neighborhoods with a history of irregular land tenure.

He specified that the detected settlements are divided into two main groups: those located within urban development master plans and those outside such boundaries. The former are the focus of the initial stage of the regularization program due to their legal and urban viability.

Farfán Bravo explained that some residents have already submitted documentation at municipal offices, while in other cases, personnel have visited the properties directly. In a subsequent phase, strict censuses of inhabitants are planned, as well as conciliation processes with landowners who express willingness to reach regularization agreements.

The official noted that one of the most relevant aspects of the diagnosis is that most people living in these settlements are not transient populations. Instead, they are residents with several years in the city, with stable employment in Playa del Carmen or the Riviera Maya, but without access to mortgage loans or low-cost housing due to the increased cost of land and social housing in recent years.

He indicated that the regularization program is not short-term, as it is a process that requires several years to consolidate. However, he affirmed that significant progress could be observed during the current year, provided a clear catalog of cases is compiled and timely follow-up is given to each one.

Regarding the criteria for determining which settlements can be regularized, he detailed that it is essential for the property owner to be willing to regularize and for there to be sufficient housing density. In contrast, settlements located on national lands with extensive subdivisions, such as plots of one hectare per occupant, will not be considered viable within the program.

Furthermore, he clarified that once formal program registrations begin, only one dwelling per person will be permitted, with the aim of preventing the accumulation of multiple properties under the same name.

Finally, he confirmed that field verification visits have already begun and will intensify in previously defined areas, although he avoided specifying locations to avoid hindering the development of the work.