The Antigua and Barbuda government plans to introduce a rent-to-own housing programme designed to help families who cannot qualify for traditional mortgages take their first step toward homeownership.
According to Antigua News Room, Works and Housing Minister Maria Browne announced the initiative during the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) manifesto launch at the American University of Antigua Conference Centre, describing it as a central measure to broaden access to housing.
"We are introducing a rent-to-own housing programme so that our hardworking families who may not yet qualify for a mortgage can still take their first step toward homeownership," Browne said.
Under the proposed model, tenants would pay affordable rent while gradually building equity in their homes. "They will rent affordably, they will build equity, and they will own their future," Browne said.
The programme forms part of a broader government housing strategy focused on increasing property ownership and improving living standards, particularly for lower- and middle-income earners. Browne framed the initiative as a reflection of the administration's core position on housing access.
"Housing is not a privilege, it is a right. It is a foundation of dignity, a platform for opportunity and a pathway to generational wealth," she said.
Browne added that the rent-to-own plan complements additional measures, including new housing developments, land distribution initiatives and support for vulnerable households. "We are expanding access to land… and strengthening support for those in need," she said, noting that repair assistance and improved housing conditions for vulnerable families are also being pursued.
The announcement comes as the government continues to promote its "Renaissance" agenda, which places housing at the centre of its development platform ahead of the April 30 general election. Browne said the ultimate goal is to create viable pathways to ownership for families who might otherwise remain locked out of the housing market.
"This is what empowerment feels like," she said.
