KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ) is calling on Jamaicans to ensure they have a formal written contract in place before beginning any home construction, expansion or renovation project.

Past president of the IMAJ, Lenworth Kelly, informed a recent JIS Think Tank that failing to have contracts in place continues to expose potential homeowners to significant financial and legal risks.

“One of the challenges in the industry is that there’s no legislation that governs contractors… So, you have a lot of persons informally who say they are contractors and they’re accepted because they say they are – just on that basis,” he said.

Kelly stressed, further, that a contract is an essential first step once building plans and drawings are complete.

“If you’re building a home, expanding, or you’re buying, that’s probably the single largest investment you will make in your life with vast sums of money. Without a formal contract, that’s ridiculous,” he stated.

Beyond having a contract, prospective homeowners are encouraged to engage qualified professionals who can act on their behalf.

“Ask your designer, ask your engineer, ask your architect to act as the administrator on your behalf. So, they will come in and check monthly at milestones and approve for payment,” noted Kelly.

He highlighted, further, that common issues reported to the IMAJ often involve homeowners who failed to take basic precautions before they begin.

“Do you have a contract? Have you checked the background of this person? What’s their track record? Are they registered with the Company’s Office of Jamaica? How long have they been in business?” he asked.

“You have a responsibility when you are going to build; you have a responsibility to be very diligent,” Kelly continued.

Even small projects should include a written agreement of some kind.

“Even if you’re building a fowl coop, write something on a book leaf. Say, ‘we agreed to pay you X. We’re going to pay you Y’ and put your timelines in there. It’s a contract still. The courts will recognise it,” Kelly said.

To support homeowners, especially those planning to build or expand their homes, the IMAJ provides direct access to its in‑house consultant.

“The IMAJ has an in-house consultant that’s available to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays to advise, particularly for homeowners who want to build a little house, you want to expand it and so on,” Kelly said.

“You call the IMAJ offices, you can do a Zoom call, or you can go in and sit with the consultant. We make that available to the public free of cost to give you direction,” he added.

-JIS