Homeowners caught in NHA/Udecott feud

HUNDREDS of prospective homeowners are being used as pawns in a reported feud between the  National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott), which could result in a severing of ties between both State agencies. After enquiries by Newsday, however, we were told some homeowners would receive their keys as early as this weekend. The feud stems from a reported bill sent by the corporation to NHA in the sum of $47 million, which the NHA has refused to pay. Newsday sources disclosed that the bill was for works by the corporation on the Roy Joseph, San Fernando, and Beverly Hills, Morvant housing projects. NHA is refusing to pay the monies until an independent quantity surveyor verifies the costs.

The corporation is said to be putting pressure on NHA to pay the monies. Sources told Newsday the NHA was not bowing and was seriously contemplating severing ties with the corporation on its housing projects. Sources said as a result of the impasse, prospective homeowners at two Udecott projects, Oropune Gardens, Piarco and Carib Gardens, Arima, who have qualified and received their financial backing secured from approved lenders, are being made to wait until the corporation completes all the legal work. At a ceremonial handing over of keys last month, they subsequently paid fees for a “Licence to Occupy” and were led to believe the keys would be theirs after that payment. However, weeks have gone by and the keys have not been delivered.

As for the units, they were completed months ago and are now left unoccupied and are being secured by private security firms. In at least one instance at Arima, a unit was being abused by the security guards. A source said some persons have already given their landlords notice to move, and have now found themselves in a predicament because of the delay. Executive director of the NHA, Noel Garcia, told Newsday he was “unaware of any feud or the possibility of ties being severed between the agencies.” But he confirmed he was besieged with calls from irate homeowners. He said the matter was out of NHA’s hands, since the required letters requesting keys were sent to them. Chairman of Udecott and TTMF, Calder Hart, also denied there was a feud between the agencies. “There is no ill will or feud and I am not sure where that came from.” He said everything was being done to ensure homeowners take possession of their homes as quickly as possible, but the corporation operated differently from the NHA and had a process to go through.

He said the corporation “makes a major effort” to deliver keys and all relevant legal documents to the homeowners “at the same time.” He said he did not like the “Licence to Occupy” system, because it resulted in deeds taking long to be delivered to the homeowners and they were “trying to avoid a repetition of such a thing.” He also assured that Udecott would take full responsibility for any “physical wear and tear” on the units until they are handed over and accepted by the homeowner. Hart later told Newsday some homeowners would receive their keys as early as this weekend, but the matter would be dealt with on an individual basis, depending on how far along the process the homeowner has gone through.