The government has approved a rent-to-own programme for select units at the Booby Alley housing development, according to Antigua News Room, offering new pathways to homeownership for eligible residents.
Director General for Communications Maurice Merchant confirmed that the initiative will apply only to units remaining after former residents of the area have been resettled.
"Cabinet's decision to implement the rent-to-own model… will be for remaining units of the 150 units," Merchant said, noting that individuals who previously lived in the area will receive priority through an exchange arrangement.
Merchant was clear that the programme does not cover the entire development. "Government is not instituting a rent-to-own for the entire Booby Alley project," he said. "Persons who lived in Booby Alley before… will be receiving their units as promised."
The remaining units will be made available to other applicants under the rent-to-own model, which is designed to broaden access to homeownership. "We are giving you the opportunity to own a unit… at affordable rates to ensure that more individuals… own property in Antigua and Barbuda," Merchant said.
The Booby Alley development, located in the Point area, forms part of the government's broader housing and urban renewal programme and is set to deliver approximately 150 modern condominium units.
Officials say the rent-to-own approach aligns with wider efforts to improve living conditions and expand housing access, particularly for individuals who may not qualify for traditional mortgages. "The aim is to ensure that an individual can afford to own their own home," Merchant said, adding that pricing will be guided by affordability and prevailing market conditions.
Further details on eligibility criteria, pricing structures and development management are expected to be released closer to the project's completion.
