Long-serving tenants of National Housing Corporation (NHC) units deserve better treatment while they await ownership of their homes, Deputy Speaker Neil Rowe told the House of Assembly on Tuesday.
While strongly supporting the State Acquisition and Vesting of Property Number 2 Bill , which would transfer ownership of 224 state-built houses to long-term tenants, the MP for St. Michael North West criticised the NHC over what he described as poor maintenance of properties in his constituency, despite tenants continuing to pay rent.
“For many of my constituents, this bill is life-changing,” he said, noting that some families had lived in NHC terrace units for 20, 23, 27 and even 30 years.
“Within those walls they raised children, cared for their elderly parents, celebrated birthdays, mourned loved ones and built strong communities. These are not merely buildings, they are homes.”
Rowe said he was “in distress” that tenants who had occupied the units for decades were still paying rent while facing significant difficulties getting basic repairs completed.
“I am in distress that my constituents are still paying rent, but when they call the National Housing depot to get maintenance it is a challenge.”
He complained that residents seeking routine repairs, including fixing windows, doors and leaking roofs, were often told there was no money available for materials or repairs.
“My question to the general manager and the management at the National Housing Corporation [is]: what is the National Housing Corporation doing with the rent that is being collected by tenants living in these units for more than 20 years, but still paying rent to the corporation?”
The concerns affected residents in Rosemont, Fernihurst, Deacon’s Farm and Golden Acre, said Rowe, adding that he wanted to know “what is being done with the taxpayers’ money within the National Housing Corporation”.
“I take serious offense to things like this. I think it is a great injustice being done to my constituents that they are still paying rent to the corporation, but when it comes to maintenance and getting things done, it is very challenging, and sometimes seems like an uphill battle.”
Responding to the concerns, Minister of Housing Christopher Gibbs acknowledged the need to improve the corporation’s customer service and maintenance response.
He announced plans to establish a rapid response unit within the ministry, supported by an upgraded web-based customer service platform that would allow tenants to report issues more efficiently.
“We are going to be erecting a rapid response unit within the ministry,” Gibbs said. “We are going to tie that to an upgraded customer service platform that will be web-based…. The truth is we have to get with the times and upgrade our customer service so that our tenants and clients live in dignity.”
The rapid response unit would ensure residents received “the right to have a proper response” whenever maintenance issues arose, he added.
(SB)
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