The Home Improvement Grant (HIG) Programme forms part of Government’s holistic housing plan. Under this programme, the Ministry would provide a maximum of $15,000 to qualifying applicants to carry out approved repair/improvement works.

Application Process

•  All applications are entered into the Ministry’s database and a random draw is used to select prospective applicants;
•  Successful applicants are invited to attend an assessment interview to determine the veracity of their application;
•  Supporting documents and a detailed estimate of the cost of repairs will be required;
•  Applicants who are incapacitated, can make a request for interviews to be conducted at the applicant’s home or curbside at the Ministry’s office.
•  A technical officer of the Ministry will visit the applicant’s premises throughout the process to ensure the approved work is being done in accordance with a legally signed Agreement;
•  Funds will be disbursed in two (2) tranches, 50% on commencement and 50% when half of the repairs have been satisfactorily completed.

• • 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.

• 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 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.

The Application form can be downloaded here:

INVITATION FOR APPLICATIONS FOR

RESIDENTIAL LOTS BY FORMER PETROTRIN EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RECEIVED TERMINATION BENEFITS IN NOVEMBER 2018

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Be a former employee of Petrotrin who received a termination benefit resulting from the closure of the Petrotrin Refinery and the Restructuring of the Exploration and Production Activities in November 2018.
• A citizen/ resident of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
• Be a first time homeowner that is, not be owner/part owner of house (dwelling unit)/ land in Trinidad and Tobago; and

RESIDENTIAL HOUSING LOTS

• Approximately five thousand (5,000) square feet;
• Fully serviced with all necessary statutory approvals;
• Offered for a lease period of one hundred and ninety-nine (199) years

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FORMS

CLARIFICATION OF SUBMISSIONS

• Additionally, physical copies of application forms and responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about the process can also be obtained from the above-mentioned locations.
• FAQ’s and responses can also be found at MEEI’s website at www.energy.gov.tt.
• Further information can be obtained by contacting MEEI’s Head Office at 225-4334 extension 2620.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

Applications would be accepted from July 15^th to August 15^th 2020.

This is for the SILWC Staff to access their Legal File system

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Click below to access the MHUD Portal

Housing Portal