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Housing Act No. 55 of 1968.

Country/Territory
Jamaica
Document type
Legislation
Date
1969
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Land & soil
Keyword
Land-use planning Liability/compensation Ownership Public health Risk assessment/management Hazards Property rights Soil conservation/soil improvement
Geographical area
Americas, Caribbean, Latin America and the Caribbean, Small Island Developing States
Abstract

This Act lays down rules for urban planning with a special emphasis on lands and buildings which are unfit for human health and habitation. The Minister responsible for housing may order the demolition, repair or reconstruction of buildings or the acquisition of land where the houses are unfit for human health and habitation. The order of the Minister for housing area, slum clearance area or an improvement area shall be published in the Official Gazette. Any scheme shall be submitted to the Local Authority within whose area the scheme is to be operative before it is approved by the Minister. The owner of the land or building specified in such notice may apply for the permission of the Minister to undertake for himself the clearance, reconstruction or improvement of the specified land and buildings. Every scheme prepared for the approval of the Minister shall contain a plan of the defined area and appropriate particulars, such as approximate area of the land to be acquired. Moreover, emergency housing schemes shall be prepared for preparedness against any disaster. Any land proposed to be acquired for the purposes of any housing scheme, slum clearance scheme, improvement scheme or emergency housing scheme approved under this Act shall be acquired in accordance with the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act. Upon the acquisition by the Minister of any land for the purposes of this Act, rights concerning land shall transfer to the Minister and the Minister shall pay compensation for the vested rights. Furthermore, a Housing Fund shall be established to be available for the purposes of this Act.

Full text
English
Website
moj.gov.jm