Right to Housing in Grenada

Status of Law in the general legal framework

Consagración como derecho fundamental
No contemplada
Definition of Right

According to General Comment No. 4 of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, "adequate housing" includes at least the following aspects: Legal security of tenure, availability of material services, facilities and infrastructure; bearable expenses; habitability, affordability; it must be in a location that allows access to employment options, health care services, child care centers, schools and other social services, in addition to having cultural adequacy.

Country
Grenada
Action Area
Urban legal frameworks

National institutions

Subnational and local institutions

International institutions

Marco Legal Nacional

Consagración como derecho fundamental

Grenade does not contemplate the Right to Housing in its Constitution. It however guarantees the protection  from deprivation of property and protection of person or property from arbitrary search or entry.

Art.1.a,c
Constitution of Grenada of 1973 - Grenada

Whereas every person in Grenada is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each ...

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Normas infraconstitucionales relacionadas con el derecho

Housing Authority Act (1981)

An Act to establish the Housing Authority of Grenada with functions to include the giving of effect to the planning, development and financing of housing and land for residential and community purposes; to provide for the designation and acquisition of land by the Authority for development; to provide for the making of loans to assist persons to acquire, provide or improve housing accommodationfor themselves and their families, and to discharge encumbrances and charges, and to make provision with respect to the housing of persons of the working class, and for purposes connected with the foregoing.

Autoridad Nacional Encargada de Regular e Implementar el acceso del derecho
Housing Authority of Grenada
Regulatory Powers

The Housing Authority of Grenada (HAG) is a statutory body established under Act 33 of 1981 and Act 38 of 1986 and has since been the premier source of quality affordable housing for the citizens of Grenada.

The institution is tasked with the responsibility of providing quality, cost-effective housing services and facilities, improved living conditions for the vulnerable, disadvantaged and low income citizens.

Specific Tasks include but are not limited to:

  • Collaborate with key strategic stakeholders to provide affordable housing to vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens
  • Develop a comprehensive information management system to strengthen coordination and monitoring mechanisms for effective service delivery and quality products
  • Develop and implement a quality assurance management system for product and service delivery
  • Develop and implement eligibility criteria to facilitate the administration of housing assistance programmes
  • Develop and implement a strategic management plan for housing scheme programmes
  • Strategize for the home delivery process to encourage a sense of community and the development of healthy social environment.

 

Mecanismos financieros- vivienda social

Home Mortgage Loans (Grenad Development Bank)

Purpose/Use of Funds:

  • Construction of new houses on land owned by the sponsors, or on land leased by them for a period in excess of the life of the loan, and intended to be used as a residence for him/her or family
  • Renovate (improve) or extend existing residential properties
  • Purchase of existing house for use as a residence for the sponsor or family
  • Purchase of land and construction of house for residential purposes
  • Purchase of land intended for future construction of house for residential purposes. In such cases the loan could be used to purchase not more than half (½) acre of land intended to be used for building residential home. It can be more than one lot but they must be adjacent to each other so that there should be no other lot or road separating them. If the customer dose not commences construction after 10 years from the purchase of the land, the interest rate will be increased to the market rate for commercial loans. If the land is sold within 10 years, the loan will become immediately due and payable and the interest will be increased retroactively to the market rate for commercial loans
  • Furnish newly constructed or renovated house funded by the GDB.
Marco Legal Internacional

Tratados Internacionales vinculantes, vigentes y ratificados

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

Art. 11. "The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties shall take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent". (Ratification/Accession: 1991).

 

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Art. 14. "States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in rural areas in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, their participation in and benefit from rural development and in particular shall ensure to them the right to: (...) (g) To enjoy adequate living conditions, particularly in the areas of housing, sanitation, electricity and water supply, transport and communications." (Ratification/Accession: 1990).

 

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Art.27. "States Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and, where necessary, shall provide material assistance and support programs, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing." (Ratification/Accession: 1990).

 

International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination

Art. 5. "In conformity with the obligations stipulated in Article 2 of this Convention, States Parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, color, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law, notably in the enjoyment of the following rights: (...) (e) Economic, social and cultural rights, in particular: (iii) The right to housing". (Ratification/Accession: 2013).

 

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Art. 17. “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honor and reputation" (Ratification/Accession: 1991).