Answer: The Applicant Must Be:

1. A Citizen Or Legal Resident Of Trinidad And Tobago;
2. Twenty-One (21) Years Of Age Or Over;
3. Neither Owner Nor Part Owner Of A House Or Land;
4. In Possession Of An Inland Revenue Tax File Number;

Question 2 - How Does One Apply For Accommodation?

Answer: Apartment Or Repossessed Mortgage Unit:- Application Can Be Made In Your Own Handwriting;

1. New Mortgage Unit - Application Is To Be Made On The Prescribed Form Obtainable At The National Housing Authority's Head Office And Sub-Offices Located At Maloney; Southern Main Road, Couva And Mc Gillvary Street, San Fernando.
2. Building Lot - Application Is To Be Made On The Prescribed Form Obtainable As Above.
   The Application Should Be Submitted To The National Housing Authority At:
   • #44-46, South Quay, Port Of Spain Or
   • Mailed To P.O. Box 555, Port Of Spain.

Question 3 - What Documents Must Be Submitted With The Application?

1. Original(S) And Photocopy/Photocopies Of Identification Card(S) Of The Applicant(S), And Where Applicable, Other Members Of The Household.
2. Original(S) And Photocopy/Photocopies Of Birth Certificate(S) Of All Members Of The Household.
3. Original And Photocopy Of Marriage Certificate (If Applicable).
4. A Sworn Affidavit Indicating That The Applicant Does Not Own House Or Land.
5. Original Job Letters Of All Working Members In The Household.
6. Advice Of Assignment Of File Number Of All Income Earners In The Household.

The Above Is Required At The Following Stages:

1. When The Applicant Initially Applies For A Lot Of Land (When Available).
2. When The Applicant Is Asked To Attend An Interview For A New Mortgage Unit.
3. When The Applicant Is Offered An Apartment Or Repossessed Mortgage Unit After An Interview Is Conducted.

Question 4 - How Does An Applicant Qualify For An Apartment Or A Repossessed Mortgage Unit?

Answer: When An Apartment Or A Repossessed Mortgage Unit Becomes Available, The Applicant Will Be Requested to Attend An Interview At The Authority's Main Office Or Designated Sub-Office To Determine His/Her Eligibility.

Question 5 - How Does An Applicant Qualify For A New Mortgage Unit?

Answer: After Being Interviewed By The NHA And If Successful The Applicant Will Then Be Referred To A Financial Institution For Another Interview To Determine Whether He/She Qualifies For A Mortgage.

Question 6 - How Does One Pay Mortgage Or Rent After Being Allocated A Unit?

1. Salary Deduction For Government Employees Occupying An Apartment Or Repossessed Mortgage Unit.
2. Standing Order From Bank Or Credit Union Or Cash Payments To The NHA's Cashiers For Non-Government Employees.
3. Private Mortgage Arrangement With An Approved Financial Institution For Houses Construction After 1994.

Preparation Of Statements And Letters To Regulatory Agencies And Embassies

Question 7 - How Does One Apply For A Statement Of Indebtedness Or Amotisation?

Answer: A Request For The Statement Can Be Made At The Customer Service Centre, Head Office And A Service Charge Of $20.00tt Must Be Paid To The Cashier. The Statement Is Issued Five (5) Working Days After Payment.

N.B. Request For A Statement Can Also Be Made At The Sub-Offices Located At Maloney, Couva And San Fernando.

Question 8 How Does One Apply For A Statement Of Interest?

Answer: The NHA Provides Statements Of Interest To Beneficiaries Of Properties Every Year Before April 30th. The First Statement Of Interest Is Issued Free Of Charge. However, Requests For Other Statements Must Be Made At The Customer Service Centre At A Cost Of $20.00tt And Can Be Collected Five (5) Working Days After Payment.

Question 9 What Rates, Taxes And Premiums Are Payable On A Property?

Answer: Land And Building Taxes; Sewerage Rate, Water Rates And Insurance Premiums Towards Hazard Insurance.

Question 10 What Does A Property Owner Require From The NHA In Order To Pay Rate And Taxes?

Answer: Letters Of Ownership From The NHA Addressed To A District Revenue Office, City Council Or Borough Council Office, And The Water And Sewerage Authority. The Letters Will Be Issued At The Time The Property Is Allocated To The Beneficiary. The Beneficiary Is Responsible For Paying All Rates And Taxes.

Question 11 To Whom Is The Hazard Insurance Premium Payable On A Property Mortgaged To The NHA?

Answer: The Insurance Premium Is Payable to The Authority. The Broker Is The Comprehensive Insurance Brokers Limited Of 103b, St. Vincent Street, Port Of Spain. On Request The Property Owner Will Be Provided With Information On The Annual Rates For Insurance Coverage.

N.B. Failure to Pay The Required Premium Will Result In Your Account With The NHA Falling Into Insurance Arrears.

Question 12 - Does The NHA Entertain Insurance Claims?

Answer: No. Claims For Compensation Must Be Directed To Comprehensive Insurance Brokers Ltd., For Processing. All Cheques will Be Forwarded By Comprehensive Insurance Brokers Ltd., To The NHA For Payment To The Claimant.

Question 13 - What Assistance Is Rendered To A Mortgagor Making An Application To An Embassy For A Visa Or To A Financial Institution Such As A Bank Or Credit Union For Any Purpose?

Answer: A Letter Will Be Issued On The Mortgagor's Behalf, Informing The Embassy Or Institution That He/She Is The Owner Of The Property Mortgaged With The NHA. The Request Is To Be Made At The customer Service Centre And, A Service Charge Of $10.00 Must Be Paid To The Cashier. The Letter Can Be Collected After Two (2) Working Days.

Purchase And Recommendation Of House Plans.

Question 14 - How Can A Customer Purchase A Set Of House Plans From The NHA?

Answer: To Purchase A Set Of Plans The Customer Is Required To:
View Various Designs Of Plans On Display At NHA's Head Office;

1. Select A Design Of His/Her Choice;
2. Make Payment Of $500.00 At The Cashier.

Question 15 - Does The NHA Recommend To The Regulatory Agencies All Of The Plans It Sells For Approval?

Answer: No. The Authority Can Only Recommend Plans For Approval On Lands Vested In The NHA.

Question 16 - What Are The Pre-Requisites For The Acceptance Of House Plans For Recommendation By The Authority?

1. The Customer Must Pay A Service Charge Of $50.00;
2. The Customer Must Have Four (4) Sets Of Plans;
3. Payment Of Rates On Building Lot Or Property Must Be Up-To-Date;
4. The Customer Must Have A Good And Effective Title To The Property Or Building Lot.

N.B. Once The Plans Are Recommended By The Authority The Customer Will Be Directed To The Regulatory Agencies Where Final Approvals Can Be Obtained.

Identification Of Boundaries

Question 17 - Who Bears The Cost Of The Identification Of Boundaries?

Answer: The Authority Bears The Full Cost Of The First
Identification Of The Boundaries Of The Building Lot Or Mortgage Unit After It Is Allocated To The Beneficiary. Should This Service Be Required In The Future, Then The Beneficiary Will Have To Pay, Per Request, Either Of The Following Service Charges;

1. $100,00 For A Building Lot Or
2. $400.00 For A Lot With Mortgage Unit.

Preparation Of Legal Documents: Deed Of Lease, (Title Document) Deed Of Surrender, Memorandum Of Charge And Memorandum Of Discharge

Question 18 - What Is The Nature Of The Title For Land?

Answer: The Title For The Land Is A Leasehold Interest For 199 Years.

Question 19 - When Is A Deed Of Lease, Deed Of Surrender, Memorandum Of Charge Or Memorandum Of Discharge Issued?

Answer: A Deed Of Lease Is Issued On Completion Of Payments For A Building Lot Or After Conversion Of A 30 Year Deed Of Lease To A 199 Year Deed Of Lease. A Deed Of Surrender Is Issued When the Property Is Being Returned To The State Within Three (3) Years Of Ownership, Or When The Leasehold Interest Is To Be Converted From 30years To 199 Years.

A Memorandum Of Charge Is Issued At The Time A Deed Of Lease Or A State Grant Is Prepared When There Is An Existing Mortgage Owing To The NHA.

A Memorandum Of Discharge Is Issued After The Full Payments Towards A Loan Have Been Made.

N.B. In The Case Of A Deed Of Surrender, A Legal Search Will Be Done By The Authority To Verify Whether The Property Is Free Of Encumbrances Before Such Document Is Prepared.

Question 20 - What Else Is Required Of The Beneficiary Before He/She Can Obtain Any Of These Legal Documents?

Answer: The Beneficiary Will Be Required To Sign The Document And Pay The Stipulated Fees In Order That It Can Be Sent To The Registrar General's Department For Registration.

Formalizing Transfer Of Ownership/Joint Ownership Of A Property:

Question 21 - What Are The Conditions Under Which An Application For Transfer Of Ownership Or Joint Ownership Will Be Entertained?

Answer

1. The Property Must Be Free Of Encumbrances.
2. There Must Be No Arrears On The Account.
3. The Prospective Owner(S) Must Satisfy The Basic Eligibility Requirements For Housing Accommodation.
4. The Applicant Must Take The Necessary Oath Before A Commissioner Of Affidavits And Provide The Supporting Documents.

Refund Of Payments Towards A Building Lot:

Question 22 - Are Refunds Of Payments Towards A Building Lot Permitted?

Answer: Yes.

1. Where The Payment Made Exceed The Cost Of Land;
2. Where Payments Were Made, But The Applicant Is No Longer Interested In Obtaining The Land.

Question 23 - How Is An Application To Be Made For A Refund Of Payments On A Building Lot?

Answer: A Request For Overpayment Or Refund Of Deposits Must Be Submitted In Writing And All The Deposit Slips Must Be Attached To The Application. The Records Will Be Verified And A Refund Voucher Will Be Prepared After The Amount Of The Refund Is Determined. The Refund Should Be Ready In Four (4) Weeks.

As A Last Resort, If There Is No Favourable Response From The Members Above You May Call Head Office At 623-Home. Extension …………Legal Department.