From Modest Quarters to Lavish Spaces: How Global MP Housing Compares to India’s
Government-provided housing for lawmakers differs dramatically worldwide—ranging from no official accommodation at all to sprawling, fully equipped residences. A comparison reveals that Indian Members of Parliament enjoy some of the most spacious and well-appointed homes among their global counterparts.
In Delhi’s upscale Lutyens Zone, recently constructed MP flats span about 5,000 square feet, each containing ten rooms, including five bedrooms, several bathrooms, a kitchen, and modern comforts like air-conditioning. MPs receive these residences without having to arrange housing in the capital themselves.
Japan offers a starkly different setup. National Diet members in Tokyo’s Akasaka district live in 28-storey apartment towers, where each unit is around 82 square metres (about 882 square feet) with three rooms—a living area, dining space, and kitchen. Lawmakers pay their own rent, which rose three years ago from 92,000 yen to 124,652 yen per month.
In Pakistan, MPs in Islamabad are given two-bedroom government suites measuring between 1,600 and 4,000 square feet, furnished with essentials such as beds, sofas, and tables. Rent is nominal under state rules.
Several countries, including the US, South Korea, Nepal, and China, offer no official housing. Instead, MPs receive allowances. In the US, lawmakers must arrange their own accommodation in Washington, DC. In South Korea and Nepal, MPs generally live in their constituencies and travel to the capital as needed. In China, members of the National People’s Congress spend most of their time in their home provinces, with government residences reserved only for top leaders.
The UK also lacks permanent housing for MPs. Those living outside London can rent in the city, with costs reimbursed under an “accommodation budget.” In special cases—such as for security or health—some MPs get small studio or one-to-two-bedroom flats near Parliament, averaging 350–500 square feet.
In Europe, practices vary further. Swedish MPs whose main homes are outside Stockholm get either a second city residence rent-free or a €639 monthly housing allowance for private rentals. In Poland, lawmakers may stay in hotel-style rooms at the Parliament, but if those are full, they are given funds to rent elsewhere.
