Allottees must confirm location & boundaries of land before building – CH&PA

…after Le Ressouvenir beneficiary build on wrong lot

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is urging beneficiaries of the government housing programme to confirm the location and boundaries of their land before commencing construction.
The message was issued in a statement on Wednesday, following a case whereby an allottee started building on the wrong plot of land at Plantation Le Ressouvenir Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to the CH&PA, the individual was allocated a residential lot at Parcel 394 Le Ressouvenir but proceeded to construct a building on Parcel 460, a designated commercial lot that was never allocated to her.
Following the discovery, the CH&PA said the allottee was engaged and informed of the necessary steps required to address the matter.
The CH&PA added that a Notice of Contravention was also issued to the allottee on September 18, 2026, allowing one month from the date of issuance to relocate to her allocated house lot and to demolish the unlawful structure.
However, the CH&PA explained that the allottee requested ownership of the commercial parcel on which she had constructed, but that request was denied, as Parcel 460 does not constitute her official allocation.

No misdirection
In light of the circumstances, the CH&PA, as well as the Housing Ministry, has rejected claims that its surveyors showed the allottee the wrong parcel.
“The Ministry categorically rejects any suggestion that its surveyors misdirected the allottee or showed her the wrong house lot. Parcel 460 was never identified, assigned or allocated to her by the Ministry. Her decision to build on a plot of land outside her official allocation was unlawful, unauthorised and constitutes a clear violation of the terms of her allocation. An allotment in a scheme does not give anyone the right to occupy or construct on a parcel of land that has not been assigned to them,” the statement outlined.
Further, the CH&PA said during an engagement with a Ministry of Housing staff member on September 24, 2026, on the side-lines of a community engagement at Better Hope, ECD, the allottee admitted that she was aware she had constructed on the wrong lot.
Despite the circumstances and the allottee’s responsibility for the unauthorised construction, the ministry said it facilitated the provision of a Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy voucher to assist with the commencement of the allottee’s foundation on her allocated lot.
Amid these developments, the CH&PA and the Housing Ministry are urging house lot allottees to confirm their locations and boundaries before starting construction.
“The Ministry reminds the public that an allocation of land does not grant an allottee the right to occupy or build on any parcel of their choosing. Allottees are urged to confirm the precise location and boundaries of their allocated lots with the agency’s surveyors before commencing construction,” the statement emphasised.
“Proceeding without such verification can result in unlawful occupation, encroachment on other lots, financial loss and enforcement action,” it added.
Moreover, the CH&PA said it will continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement across housing schemes, ensuring that allottees comply with established requirements and that the integrity of the allocation process is upheld across all housing developments.