• +1 (868) 623 4663

What happens after the application has been received?

  • Information from the completed application form is entered into a database
  • Applicants then receive a reference number, username and password. The reference number identifies the applicant(s) on the database. The username and password allow applicant(s) to login to their account to view and/or make changes to their application information as and when necessary
  • The status of the application remains unchanged until the application is selected in a supervised, computerized random draw

How is someone selected for a home?

  • Once the HDC identifies a housing development that is almost near completion, a supervised computerized random selection draw is conducted. Every application has an equal opportunity of being selected during this process. Salary range of the applicant(s), number of housing units available and, cost of units are just some of the weights used to determine the applicants that will be selected in any given draw.
  • Based on the selling price of the units, The Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company recommends the salary ranges applicable to accessing a mortgage
  • Selected persons are contacted by the HDC and invited to attend an assessment interview. At time of interview, applicants will be required to submit financial and legal documents, which will be identified in a letter
  • Applicants found to be eligible, are then sent to the Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company for a mortgage assessment
  • Following the mortgage assessment at TTMF, a listing is done of all suitably qualified persons
  • Letters of offer are then made for to these persons
  • Once the units are completed and ready for distribution, the keys are handed over to the respective homeowners
  • Applicants who are unable to access mortgage arrangements may be considered for the rent-to- own option or a rental unit.
  • An applicant always has the option to decline the unit they have been allocated and formally request that their application be ‘untagged’ and return to the pool of applicants in the database for selection in subsequent draws.

 

The Home Improvement Grant (HIG) Programme forms part of Government’s holistic housing plan. Under this programme, the Ministry would provide a maximum of $15,000 to qualifying applicants to carry out approved repair/improvement works.

Application Process

  •  All applications are entered into the Ministry’s database and a random draw is used to select prospective applicants;
  •  Successful applicants are invited to attend an assessment interview to determine the veracity of their application;
  •  Supporting documents and a detailed estimate of the cost of repairs will be required;
  •  Applicants who are incapacitated, can make a request for interviews to be conducted at the applicant’s home or curbside at the Ministry’s office.
  •  A technical officer of the Ministry will visit the applicant’s premises throughout the process to ensure the approved work is being done in accordance with a legally signed Agreement;
  •  Funds will be disbursed in two (2) tranches, 50% on commencement and 50% when half of the repairs have been satisfactorily completed.
    • The Home Construction Subsidy provides funding of up to TT$50,000 to assist families with the construction of a new housing solution. The PMCEU will develop approved house plans, estimate cost of the house and obtain statutory approvals for proprietary housing solutions, ranging from starter houses in the region of TT $150,000 to a complete housing solution within the Programme’s Ceiling of $300,000 in Trinidad or $350,000 in Tobago. The complete solution would be designed to be built incrementally but where the occupant can enjoy a habitable house.
      Qualifying Criteria
      i. The household income must not exceed TT$96,000 per annum;
      ii. The applicant must be a citizen and residing in Trinidad and Tobago;
      iii. The applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years old;
      iv. The applicant must not have benefitted from any housing subsidy offered by the MHUD and its agencies
      v. No applicant nor any other member of the household should own or be part owner of any property in Trinidad and Tobago
    • The applicant may select one of the PMCEU’s proprietary plans which has an estimated cost of materials and cost of construction or provide their own approved housing plan if:
      i. The PMCEU determines that the total estimated cost of materials and cost of construction, is within the Programme’s ceiling; or
      ii. If they provide a report from an approved Quantity Surveyor (QS) confirming that the cost of the whole or part to be occupied can be completed within the Programme’s ceiling.

 

  • Construction on Beneficiary’s Land
    Applicants who own land or have permission to occupy land and wish to construct a new housing solution will be eligible for a Housing Subsidy following:
  • i. Satisfaction of the Financial Institution or NGO requirements for a loan or mortgage; or having completed the necessary work or by showing evidence of the ability to carry out the construction of the residence to the required stage using savings or savings with sweat equity;
    ii. If the work has already started, the builder’s estimate must include a valuation of the completed work (within the last 10 years) and an estimate of work to be done including labour cost for completion.
  • The Home Improvement Subsidy provides funding of up to TT$20,000 per beneficiary household, to assist families with needed home improvements. This subsidy will be issued on a matching basis (equal contribution by the beneficiary).

The procedure for the selection of beneficiaries will be as follows:

    • The MHUD’s database of applicants for home improvement under the programme will be used to select beneficiaries. The subsidy will be used to undertake home repairs for an existing house. These include: expansion and renovations, with an emphasis on those renovations that provide maximum health and safety benefits, such as roofing, conversion of earthen or wooden floors to concrete, conversion of wooden structures to bricks, the addition of rooms, electrical works, plumbing and sanitary works.

 

  • Qualifying Criteria

To qualify for a home improvement subsidy, the following criteria must be fulfilled:

  • The household income must not be above the threshold of TT$96,000 per annum and the applicant must sign an affidavit attesting to this fact.
  • The applicant must be a citizen or legal resident of, and residing in, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and be at least 18 years old;
  • The applicant or any other household member must not have benefitted from any subsidy from the MHUD or its agencies; and
  • The applicant must be the owner of the property or have the legal permission to occupy the property. Consideration will be given to squatters who must be recipients of a Certificate of Comfort.

The Government’s Aided Self-Help Housing Programme is a new concept aimed at empowering persons to manage the construction of their own homes with financial and technical support from the state. This programme will complement the existing Accelerated Housing Programme (Government-subsidised housing) and targets resident citizens without land as well as those with land.

Through this strategy:

Eligible citizens, without land, will benefit from access to fully developed lots costing 30% of its market value, subsidised mortgages at 2% and 5% interest rates from the Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company (TTMF), building contractors, pre-approved house plans, technical assistance and oversight for the construction of their homes.

Eligible citizens, with land approved for residential use, will also be able to access subsidised mortgages at 2% and 5% interest rates from the Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company (TTMF), building contractors, pre-approved house plans, technical assistance and oversight for the construction of their homes.

Beneficiaries will be encouraged to manage the construction process, using their own finances, to ensure their homes are completed within a two (2) year period.

 

Application Period:
Persons without land- Closed

Persons with land- Open

44-46 South Quay, Port of Spain

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development

 Monday to Friday  8:00 am – 3:00 pm

The Application form can be downloaded here:

INVITATION FOR APPLICATIONS FOR

RESIDENTIAL LOTS BY FORMER PETROTRIN EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RECEIVED TERMINATION BENEFITS IN NOVEMBER 2018

 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • Be a former employee of Petrotrin who received a termination benefit resulting from the closure of the Petrotrin Refinery and the Restructuring of the Exploration and Production Activities in November 2018.
  • A citizen/ resident of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
  • Be a first time homeowner that is, not be owner/part owner of house (dwelling unit)/ land in Trinidad and Tobago; and

 

RESIDENTIAL HOUSING LOTS

  • Approximately five thousand (5,000) square feet;
  • Fully serviced with all necessary statutory approvals;
  • Offered for a lease period of one hundred and ninety-nine (199) years

 

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FORMS

             

CLARIFICATION OF SUBMISSIONS

  • Additionally, physical copies of application forms and responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about the process can also be obtained from the above-mentioned locations.
  • FAQ’s and responses can also be found at MEEI’s website at www.energy.gov.tt.
  • Further information can be obtained by contacting MEEI’s Head Office at 225-4334 extension 2620.

 

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

Applications would be accepted from July 15th to August 15th 2020.

 

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