H&L touts low-cost housing ‘game changer’
Published:Thursday | May 15, 2025 | 5:27 PMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
It was nine years in the making, but Hardware and Lumber Limited (H&L) believes it has found the solution to the housing crisis in Jamaica by providing competitively priced homes to fill the gap in the housing stock.
H&L Homes yesterday launched what it considers a game changer in quality, affordable homes to fulfil the dreams of yearning homeowners.
Erwin Burton, chairman of Hardware & Lumber Limited, told The Gleaner that the company has been planning for a number of years to enter the housing market and now, with partners from Colombia, those plans have materialised.
“We have installed a sample of houses that we are going to be putting on the market. Today (yesterday) was the official launching of this housing project and it is something that we have tremendous amount of confidence in and great hope, both for the fortunes of the company and for the people of Jamaica, where we are bringing them this quality housing at very competitive prices,” Burton said.
The housing kits range from one-bedroom to three-bedroom units.
The Bougainvillea, with one bedroom, one bathroom, 332 square feet ($4.1 million, GCT not included); The Hibiscus, two bedroom, one bathroom, 450 square feet ($4.5 million, GCT not included) and The Poinciana, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 944 square feet ($8.9 million, GCT not included) are the housing solutions now available.
“This is something that has tremendous potential in Jamaica, and that people who really want to have a starter home can actually purchase and get mortgage for it,” Burton said.
According to the H&L chairman, the houses are built with disaster risk assessment.
“These houses are very earthquake- and hurricane-resistant,” Burton told The Gleaner.
Interested homeowners or mortgagors simply need to provide the land and foundation.
“What we sell is the kit. If you want a one-bedroom, it comes in a kit, and everything is in that kit. Two bedrooms and three bedrooms, likewise. You buy your kit and you install [it] yourself. We are not at this point in the installation part of the business, so it would be necessary for you to get your own contractor,” Burton said.
H&L says the interest and anticipation in the housing solutions is very high.
“People are looking at it for various purposes. Some are looking at Airbnb, some are looking at individual starter homes for themselves, and some are looking at setting up an entire housing development using these. And you are talking about getting it done, within, call it on the outside, two months to finish,” Burton said.
He said the quoted prices include high-strength concrete panels, exterior and interior doors, windows and mouldings, ceramic bathroom and floor tiles, a kitchenette with sink and faucet, bathroom fixtures, electrical and water tank.
Research continues
Dr Kevin Brown, president of the University of Technology, said it was a pleasure to work with H&L Homes to solve the housing problem and ensure that the technology used is fit for purpose. He added that although some of the technology emerged from Colombia, it will work in Jamaica.
“Although UTech exists to produce Jamaica’s STEM workforce, my position, and actually it is the mission of the institution, [is] that we must also solve society’s problems. The numbers [in the housing shortage] are disputed, but nonetheless, I believe that most of you would agree with me that it is a dream for all of us to own our own home,” Brown said, adding that the house can serve for generations.
Brown said UTech’s research would not stop at the launch.
“We will be using this model house to continue our assessment, our scientific investigations into the performance of the house. We want to ensure that when you purchase it, despite the very competitive price point, that you have a home that will be effective in terms of heat management or a home that will resist all these shakes and earthquakes that we occasionally get in Jamaica, and also will be resistant to hurricane and other climatic conditions,” Brown said.