Land Settlement Agency (L.S.A)
Welcome to the Land Settlement Agency
The LSA now falls under the purview of the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs. Its mandate is to “protect eligible squatters from being ejected off State Lands; to facilitate the acquisition of leasehold titles by both squatters and tenants in designated areas, and to provide for the establishment of land settlement areas”.
Contact Information
Orange Grove Road, Tacarigua
Office: (868) 299-0795
Email: [email protected]
Land for the Landless Programme (LFLP)
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
The Land for the Landless Programme (LFLP) as a critical policy intervention aimed at addressing the persistent demand for residential land and the challenges associated with equitable access to State land. The Programme seeks to provide a structured and lawful alternative to squatting by facilitating affordable and secure access to residential lots for landless citizens. In doing so, it will safeguard State resources, promote orderly settlement development, and support sustainable and inclusive growth
The LFLP will focus on the distribution of fully serviced residential lots for which all statutory approvals have been obtained, thereby ensuring that beneficiaries are provided with developed residential lots suitable for the immediate construction of permanent dwellings. Residential lots will be sold at a subsidised rate of between 30% to 50% of the market value to maintain affordability and inclusion.
The primary objectives of the LFLP are:
- To empower landless citizens by providing a structured pathway to homeownership;
- To promote equity in the distribution of residential lots through transparent allocation mechanisms;
- To enhance security of tenure by providing long-term Deeds of Lease of 199 years;
- To deter squatting by offering a lawful, affordable, and structured alternative to informal land occupation;
- To reaffirm the State’s commitment to adherence with all statutory and regulatory standards, thereby ensuring safe and sustainable community development;
- To foster community development and enterprise initiatives that promote socioeconomic resilience; and
- To establish a degree of financial sustainability by reinvesting land payments into ongoing and future land development.
The LFLP will deliver:
- Fully approved residential lots with infrastructure and statutory approvals
- 199-year Deeds of Lease (long-term security of tenure)
- Highly-subsidised residential lots
- Access to free house plans
- Technical support through the LSA
- A lawful, structured path to homeownership
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants must fit the following criteria for selection:
- Be a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago;
- Be over 18 years of age;
- Not be owner/part owner of property/land in Trinidad and Tobago at the time of allocation of the residential lot. Where it appears to the LSC that an applicant has, whether directly or indirectly, disposed of or otherwise deprived himself or herself of any property for the purpose of meeting eligibility requirements, such property shall, notwithstanding such disposition, be deemed to be owned by the applicant and shall be taken into account accordingly;
- The combined monthly income of the applicant and co-applicant, where applicable, must not exceed $30,000 per month (excluding Senior Citizen’s Pension and National Insurance Scheme grants) Where it appears to the LSC that an applicant has, whether directly or indirectly, deprived himself or herself of income for the purpose of meeting eligibility requirements, such income shall, notwithstanding such deprivation, be deemed to be possessed by the applicant and shall be taken into account accordingly; and
- Must not previously been the recipient of any government or state housing subsidy.
ALLOCATION CATEGORIES
Lots will be allocated to beneficiaries as outlined below:
| Category | Allocation Share | Target Group |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 60% | General landless applicants |
| Category 2 | 20% | Employees of the State (members of the protective services, public officers / civil servants, employees of Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises, contracted Government employees and members of the teaching service) At least one applicant must be an employee of the State, for a minimum of 5 years at the time of application |
| Category 3 | 20% | Recent graduates (within 5 years of date of application) of accredited tertiary institutions |
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications will be accepted exclusively online, with supporting documents uploaded digitally. A receipt will be automatically generated upon submission.
To ensure inclusivity, the LSA will establish regional application hubs to assist persons who require help with the online process.
