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General

The Government’s Aided Self-Help Housing Programme is an affordable high quality housing initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development which is intended to complement the existing Accelerated Housing Programme. It is hoped that this programme will facilitate the construction of high quality houses at a reduced cost and an accelerated pace.

The Ministry hopes that this programme will encourage housing construction where the individuals finance and manage their own construction, utilising builders and other craftsmen.

The programme seeks to target resident citizens without land as well as those with land. Applicants without land will be provided with fully developed housing lots, in addition to the framework for accessing government’s subsidised mortgages depending on their financial resources, pre- approved house plans and technical assistance. Applicants with land will benefit from access to government’s subsidised mortgages depending on their financial resources, pre-approved house plans and technical assistance.

Beneficiaries will be encouraged to build their own unique homes using their finances. They must also manage the construction process in order to ensure that it is completed within a 2 year period.

At the state (macro-economic) level, the programme will:
Significantly reduce public expenditure on the housing sector and dependence on Government to provide same;

Act as a major economic stimulant and facilitate employment across the country as it will create major spin-offs for skilled and semi-skilled labourers; and,

Increase the national housing stock while reducing the demand for housing units through the Ministry’s Accelerated Housing Programme.

At the individual (micro-economic) level there will be:
More individual choice in the selection of a house model to suit the form and functionality of a diverse range of family and economic needs.

Financial benefits such as subsidised cost of the lots, pre-approved house plans and mortgage facilities;

Other benefits such as the technical housing support assistance and the 22 point quality assurance plan developed by HDC to assist contractors adhere to a standardized building code to ensure homes are able to withstand natural disasters.

1,000 housing lots will be made available in the first cycle.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will be responsible for administering the programme, through the establishment of an Aided Self-Help Housing Committee. This committee will comprise officers from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and other state agencies associated with the programme.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants who do not own land, must:

  • Be citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and have resided (uninterrupted) in Trinidad and Tobago for the last five (5) years preceding the date of signing a Statutory Declaration
  • Be twenty one (21) years and over
  • Not be owner/part owner of house (dwelling unit)/land in Trinidad and Tobago (i.e. land upon which a house can be built), for Five (5) years preceding the time of the application.
  • Be first time homeowners; and,
  • Have a monthly (single or combined) income which does not exceed $25,000.00

Applicants who own land, must:

  • Be citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and have resided (uninterrupted) in Trinidad and Tobago for the last five (5) years preceding the date of signing a Statutory Declaration
  • Be Twenty One (21) years and over
  • Be Land owners who do not own a house (dwelling unit), but must have all statutory approvals for construction of a house on the land
  • Be first time homeowners
  • Have a monthly (single or combined) income does not exceed $25,000.00.

Application Process

Yes, once they meet the application’s criteria. They must however relinquish their tenancy status once they have completed construction of their home, should they be successful.

Yes, but choice will be dependent on availability.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will be responsible for administering the programme through the establishment of an Aided Self-Help Housing Committee. The committee will be comprised of officers from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and other state agencies associated with the programme.

Selection and Allocation Processes

  • The housing lots will be allocated through a Modified Weighted Selection System to beneficiaries using the following criteria:
  • 70% – Via computerised draw
  • 30% – Based on the recommendation of the Minister with responsibility for housing.

The system will employ the following weights to determine the priority needs of applicants:

  • Number of dependents residing in the house;
  • Length of time that an application for housing has been submitted to the Ministry; and,
  • Applications which identify a household member as having a permanent disability (this must be validated by a Medical Officer from a Regional Health Authority institution).

The eligible applicants will be ranked between 1 and 5 points according to the weights allotted; those with the highest points (10 being the maximum and 2 being the minimum) will be deemed to be of the highest need.

Building Criteria

  • The housing lots will be sold at a subsidised cost of 30% of the market value. This cost is determined by the Commissioner of Valuations.

Yes. Among other things, the market value is calculated based on location and size of the lot.

Some of the associated costs include but are not limited to legal fees, subsidised house plans, TTMF’s qualification certificate and title searches, and other administrative costs.

The type and size will be determined based on the beneficiary’s financial qualification.

Beneficiary Obligation

  • The estimated cost of the subsidized house plans is $1,500.

There is an additional twelve month period built into the programme for such contingencies but the request will be reviewed on a case by case basis by the Aided Self-Help Committee.

The consequences will be tied to the mortgage arrangements.

Yes. The beneficiary is responsible for all contractual arrangements with the contractor.