According to a study, only 7.5% of UB’s metropolitan citizens own land, despite the launching of a land owning campaign in 2003.

Large number of families in ger districts and summer camp houses may not understand the difference between occupying and owning land, unaware of the fact that they may not hold the actual title to their land, and that only a properly registered owner can legally sell or rent the land.  

Furthermore, access to land ownership is restricted by what seems to be rather complicated and expensive bureaucratic and administrative procedures to secure property rights. Officials say citizens do not follow proper legal procedures, but citizens, on the other hand, say it is never clear where they have to go and what they have to do. In such conditions, confusion seems to thrive, probably explaining allegations that one either has to know the right people or pay bribes.

World known economist Hernando de Soto’s team studied the situation here for three weeks and found that a Mongolian citizen has to pass five stages before securing property right land, during which he has to collect documents, prepare them and submit them to 47 places. The usual time taken is 171 days and the total expenses are USUSD714. Considering the average annual salary here is USUSD960, property rights acquisition comes expansive and discouraging for many.

Nevertheless, officials have denied that so much money is required and find further mistakes in the study. According to them, De Soto’s team included intra-family negotiations in the 47 people they listed.

However, a drastic revision of the property right securing process is likely to occur soon as USUSD17.2 million will be spent on a Property Rights Project. Procedures will be simplified, land will be demarcated more clearly, and measures put in place to help people acquire land property. The project will last until 2015.

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