By Alicia Chamely
THE Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is cracking down on tenants who are in violation of the terms and conditions of residence on their deeds.
In a social media video on Thursday, Minister in the Ministry of Housing Phillip Edward Alexander, accompanied by HDC officials, went to the Greenvale Housing Development in Arima to investigate a resident who had added an additional structure to his unit without HDC approval and had erected a tent in the development’s communal area to park vehicles, alleging he was running a business.
Alexander said the HDC had written the owner twice regarding his breaches of contract.
He said: “The HDC wrote to (owner) in 2024 and 2026 regarding the illegal structure he has built at the front of his house. (The owner) has taken it upon himself to clear the common parking areas—he has turned it into a business.”
Alexander said the HDC had received numerous complaints from neighbours and had sent cease-and-desist letters, which the minister alleged owner had burned.
He said they had reason to believe the owner was inside the unit but refused to come out.
“According to the deed that he signed, the lessee shall not make any alterations in the demised premises without the approval in writing of the lessor of the plans and specifications thereof, and shall make such alterations only in accordance with such plans and specifications,” Alexander said, referencing the deed.
Alexander pointed to the unit and then to the tent constructed in the communal car park.
He said: “Each of these townhouses comes with parking that can accommodate two cars. He has built over his parking—it is now an above-ground pool and other things—and he put up this tent outside for what I believe are his cars.”
Alexander said that, under HDC policy, no resident may commandeer a communal space, and residents are not permitted to establish any business in the development.
He said: “(The owner) is in serious violation, and this coming week we will be sending a team to remove the vehicles, take down the tent, remove the container, and take steps to address the unlawful renovation. I will send a copy of this through whatever channels we have for him—if we can find his lawyers, or anyone who signed these deeds with him—but we are coming to remove these items.”
Alexander said: “The message has to be clear that anybody living in any HDC property, whether a buyer or renter, is not allowed to take over the common areas. The common areas are for the use of everybody, not for someone who thinks he is the biggest ‘Bad John’ in the community.”
He said the ministry and the HDC were committed to ensuring that the rules and regulations of HDC homes and developments were adhered to.
