- 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.
Home Improvement Subsidy (HIS) Programme (Up to TT$20,000.00)
- 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.
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.
Exemption from Income Tax
Government's Aided Self-Help Housing Programme
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- ClosedPersons 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:
