People are being targeted by scammers posing as Housing Development Corporation (HDC) or Ministry of Housing agents, who claim they can secure HDC homes by bypassing the official allocation process in exchange for money, the HDC has warned.
In a media release on Friday, the HDC said it had received reports of individuals offering private assistance to help people acquire HDC homes outside the official system.
The HDC said such practices were illegal and would fail.
It warned that any purchases made through unauthorised channels would be nullified, the properties reclaimed by the HDC, and any money paid to third parties would most likely be lost.
The HDC said investigations were underway into reports that people had paid money into private accounts and were allocated houses that were still listed on the HDC system as vacant and available for sale.
It stressed that anyone occupying an HDC property without the direct involvement of the corporation would be evicted.
The HDC reminded the public that the only legitimate way to acquire an HDC home is by registering through its website or in person at its South Quay, Port of Spain office, and obtaining pre-qualification through the Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Bank or another legitimate financial or mortgage institution.
The corporation also said it was preparing to conduct a nationwide audit of its properties and developments to determine whether any had been removed from its records and sold privately.
It warned that any such sales would be treated as illegal, occupants would be evicted, and the matters referred to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
The HDC urged anyone who dealt with third parties, received assurances without proper deeds or leases, or was otherwise unsure whether their purchase or occupancy of an HDC property was legitimate to contact the corporation immediately.
