Minister of Housing Collin Croal has issued a stern warning to beneficiaries of the government’s housing program, emphasizing that state-allocated homes cannot be resold for at least the first 10 years of ownership. This statement was made during the launch of the Hyde Park Homestead Project, where Croal expressed concern over homes from the state system appearing in resale advertisements.
“Sometimes when you see advertisements for houses for resale, you realize it is actually one of the houses from our housing program,” Croal stated. “It is doing a disservice to someone who is really in need.”
Under the housing program, homes allocated by the Ministry of Housing have a 10-year tenure, during which beneficiaries are prohibited from selling or disposing of the property. Anyone found in violation of this agreement could face penalties.
Croal clarified that the vetting and application process for beneficiaries is intended to identify individuals and families with genuine housing needs, asserting that reselling undermines the program’s purpose. “You are a potential owner because you came through an application process, and you are a potential owner because you recognized that you had a need,” he explained.
The minister revealed that the ministry is considering measures to pursue individuals who violate the resale agreement, signaling a zero-tolerance approach towards such actions. “We are examining measures at our level to go after such persons, and I want to use this opportunity to say that we will have no tolerance for individuals who seek to resell these homes,” he stated.
This warning comes amid ongoing housing developments across the country, as the government strives to increase access to affordable housing for Guyanese families.
