Occupancy rate at housing schemes remains low – Housing Minister

…50 low-income houses available at Prospect

By Rupa Sewnarine

The establishment of many developing housing schemes along the stretch of coastland has not eliminated the low occupancy rate, as many of the allocated plots remain uninhabited.
This was the position shared by the Junior Communities Minister with responsibilities for Housing, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, who mentioned that the occupancy rate of many housing schemes remains below what is expected.
“It is no secret that while a number of schemes were developed in the past, the occupancy rate remains low, something that cannot be sustained… All those lots that were sold and most of those owners would have received their certificate of titles which gives them ownership,” said Yearwood-Adams.
She made these remarks on Friday during an Open Day initiate, where the public was given an opportunity to view 50 houses that were constructed for low-income earners.
Because of the low numbers, the Minister stated that they are moving to repurchase these lands and allocate it to those who are searching for land.
“If you know people who have a house lot and they’re not occupying it all these years, tell them come into [the Department of] Housing and sell it back to us. We’re going to pay the price we sold them for,” she mentioned.
Through a collaborative effort by a number of contracting agencies, the Department of Housing unveiled the structures, which were built at Prospect on the East Bank Demerara.