KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a move to address the country’s shortage of cost-effective housing, H&L Homes, the newest division of the H&L Group, has rolled out its modular home solutions on the market.

Speaking at a launch event Wednesday morning, Chief Category Manager at H&L Patrick Chambers said the houses being sold at an affordable price point will give more Jamaicans a chance to become homeowners.

“I first came across these units during a trade show in Columbia, and since then we’ve been heavily focused on bringing them to Jamaica. We’ve spent about nine years redeveloping them to make them more suitable to our local realities,” he told attendees during the launch.

The houses which are said to be Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) approved are hazard resistant and able to withstand adverse weather events such as hurricanes, earthquakes and fire, frequent in this region.

Starting at $4.1 million for a one-bedroom unit, Chambers stressed that more Jamaicans can bring their dreams of homeownership one step closer. A two-bedroom unit is priced at $4.5 million, while the three-bedroom unit starts at $8.9 million, with GCT excluded from all prices. All units come with a bathroom(s), a kitchen and a living room. Land, foundation, labour and other construction costs are not included in the starting prices.

The cost of the units, which covers from foundation to roof, includes high-strength concrete panels, ceramic bathroom and floor tiles, bathroom fixtures, a kitchenette with a sink and faucet, electrical wiring and a water tank. Partnering with the University of Technology (Utech), which has been onboarded to ensure the homes satisfy national building code requirements, the units also allow for custom designing.

With the buildup of the foundation, a unit can take approximately six to eight weeks to be assembled and ready for occupancy.

“These modular homes are very innovative and are strategically designed to address Jamaica’s shortage of housing. The products used are tried and tested in South America. The system features eco-friendly heater board concrete panels made of cement, silicon and some other fibrous material, standing as a very strong and durable product,” Chambers said.

— Kellaray Miles