JAMAICA | Opposition wants review of new policy for joint NHT mortgage

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 25, 2022 -  The announcement by prime minister Andrew Holness that the National Housing Trust (NHT) will allow up to three contributors to apply for a two-bedroom or larger unit to better improve affordability has been receiving some amount of push back in terms of its workability. 

Speaking in the debate on the Appropriations Bill on Friday, Opposition Senator Sophia Frazer-Binns urged the government to review its conditions for allowing three people to join to secure a mortgage from the National Housing Trust (NHT).

Holness told Parliament last week that this policy position ensures that more people, particularly family members, can access housing. A key provision of this policy is that proof must be established that the applicants are bona fide family members and have demonstrable kinship ties.

Senator Frazer-Binns however questioned this condition, asking who is considered a family member.

"What does it mean by 'related’? Is it a blood relation? Is it a spousal relation? Because a common law relationship under our law is five years.

What if you're in a serious relationship with somebody for less than five years? Are you deemed to be related? And what about two best friends like Donna and I?

What if me and Donna decide that we want to join together and buy a house? Because we're not related, we can't have that benefit?" she questioned.

Senator Frazer-Binns argued that "much more thought is required" in relation to the policy.

She suggested the government review the requirement for family relations, noting that otherwise, "it is not going to satisfy the objective...that the Prime Minister is trying to achieve".

The prime minister also announced that effective July 1, 2022, the NHT will revise its policy on subsidies in an effort to ensure that they are applied to those who are most in need. Income will be the sole determinant of whether a subsidy is applied.

The disability grant was introduced in July 2017. Under the programme, NHT mortgagors with disabilities or who reside with and care for a family member with disabilities are eligible for a grant of up to $150,000 to be used to retrofit or upgrade the dwelling to make it suitable to serve their needs.

Effective July 1, 2022, the NHT will double the Disability Grant benefit and allocate up to $300,000 per individual up to a maximum of two persons living with disabilities per household.

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