Golding Pledges to Improve Housing For Low Income Owners

Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, has pledged to dramatically increase access to affordable housing in the country.

Among those programmes is a one billion dollar loan facility for young first time buyers.

Mr. Golding vowed to end the annual transfer of 11 billion dollars from the National Housing Trust, NHT, to the Consolidated Fund.

The programme of NHT draw downs was initially implemented by the previous PNP administration, but was continued under the current Andrew Holness administration.

Mr. Golding also promises that a future PNP government will absorb the insurance payments for NHT loans for low income earners.

The Opposition Leader also put forward a rent to own initiative through the Housing Trust.

He says the scheme will allow persons who cannot save enough to pay the deposit to buy a house, will be able to rent a NHT house under the NHT rent-to-own programme.

Mr. Golding says once a specified portion of the rent payments add up to the deposit, they will be treated as having paid it and can access a mortgage for the balance to buy a house.

Mark Golding, Leader of the Opposition.