Dear Claudienne,

I have been a contributor to the National Housing Trust (NHT) for over 10 years.

I would like to find out from the NHT what I need to do to get a loan of $500,000 to improve a section of a house built on land that my mother owns.

My mother has 14 children and some of us contributed the money and material to build the five-bedroom house on the land.

I am 55 years old and I have no children. When I retire I plan to live on the ground floor of the two-storey house.

I would like to get the loan from the NHT to do improvements on the ground floor.

I am living and working in Kingston at this time, so I visited the NHT office to find out about getting a loan. However, when I told them my mother’s age they said that her title was too old to use as collateral. The officer said that my name would have to be put on the title for me to be able to use it to get the loan.

Could you please find out from the NHT what I need to do to get a benefit.

IB

Dear IB

According to the NHT, your matter was complex and was an unusual situation.

The NHT said that all persons up to age 65, once they satisfy the 52-week contribution requirements, and once their contributions are current, are eligible for an NHT loan.

In your case, being 55 years old, you are eligible for a loan at an interest rate 1% lower than the rate which would normally apply to your income group. You would have up to age 70 to pay off the loan.

Where the property on which a loan applicant intends to build is owned by someone other than him/herself, the NHT requires that the person whose name is on the title give written permission for the title to be used as security for the loan.

The NHT spokesperson said that where the property owner (your mother) is older than 70 years as in your case, the matter becomes more complex and has to be submitted to the NHT board for consideration. To approve the application, the board would rely on assurance in the form of a medical certificate, that the owner has the mental capacity to enter into an agreement of this nature. Furthermore, they require proof that the owner has had independent legal advice during which the nature of the transaction and implications were clearly outlined and understood.

Tell Claudienne notes that in your specific case, the Manager of the Kingston and St Andrew Branch called and invited you to meet with them on Monday April 8. At the meeting the issues with respect to your mother’s age were outlined to you. The NHT asked you to locate the title for your mother’s property which you believed to be with another government agency.

As soon as you have carried out all the other actions required by the NHT as outlined above, your matter would then be submitted to the NHT’s senior management for consideration.

The NHT said they await your follow-up.

Good luck.

Dear Claudienne,

Could you kindly ask the Jamaica Public Service Company to repair the street lights at the corner of Downer Avenue leading from Lady Musgrave Road to the intersection of Trafalgar Road and Worthington Avenue? These lights have not worked for some three years, and the situation is very dangerous to motorists and pedestrians at night. The street light between 5 &9 Rutland Drive in Beverly Hills has also not been working since 2009.

BB

Dear BB

The JPS took action after we intervened.From your recent report, the lights are now working.

Good luck.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 936-9436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.