The National Housing Trust (NHT) is preparing a top‑to‑bottom review of its long‑running Build 9 initiative after fewer than one‑third of approved projects ever made it past the finish line.
Fresh mandate, fresh team
A spokesperson for the state lender confirmed that a multi‑disciplinary task force is now being formed to overhaul the programme and craft new policy options. The decision follows years of sluggish participation, even after 2025 rule changes that were supposed to make the process simpler and cheaper.
How Build 9 was meant to work
Introduced in 2007 under the name “Cluster Housing” and later rebranded, Build 9 lets small groups of NHT contributors—usually relatives or close friends—combine their loan entitlements to buy land, put in roads and utilities, subdivide the property, and eventually erect separate houses. Each participant can borrow up to J$4 million, a ceiling raised last year.
Results so far
Out of 15 green‑lit clusters, only four have reached completion. Industry insiders say the biggest roadblock is the infrastructure phase—laying pipes, drainage, and asphalt—which must meet municipal standards before subdivision titles are issued. Rising material costs and professional fees have pushed budgets beyond the reach of most applicants.
Market pressures
Jamaica’s housing shortfall is estimated at well over 100,000 units. Even though the Trust recently boosted individual mortgage limits to J$8.5 million and introduced zero‑interest loans for the lowest earners, supply still lags demand—especially for middle‑income families squeezed by escalating construction prices.
What real‑estate professionals are saying
The Realtors Association of Jamaica (RAJ) calls Build 9 “a solid concept trapped in a tricky execution”. According to the group, too few Jamaicans know the programme exists, and the current infrastructure allowance barely dents the real cost of roads and drainage. “Without stronger technical and financial hand‑holding, most contributors will never get beyond the drawing board,” the RAJ told this publication.
NHT’s acknowledgement
In written responses, the Trust conceded that professional fees, unpredictable cost spikes, and strict subdivision rules “continue to put pressure on beneficiaries.” While the agency permits groups to hire surveyors and engineers using a slice of their loan funds, the bulk of coordination still falls on ordinary contributors—many with no project‑management background.
Next steps
The incoming task force will examine everything from marketing and technical support to funding formulas. Stakeholders hope the reset will deliver clearer guidelines, better data collection, and—most critically—an infrastructure package large enough to turn Build 9 from an interesting idea into a practical path to home‑ownership.
If the review succeeds, the Trust could unlock a new avenue for thousands of families to build together and help chip away at Jamaica’s stubborn housing deficit. Until then, Build 9 remains an ambitious experiment waiting for its breakout moment.
