Fraud Prevention
Dual-sale fraud — in which the same property is sold to two separate buyers simultaneously — is a recurring problem in Jamaica’s property market. The first buyer to register their title with the NLA typically prevails, leaving the other with a civil claim and little prospect of full recovery.
Data from the Real Estate Board of Jamaica reveals at least 157 housing projects remain unfinished, many past their original completion dates. The REB has initiated legal proceedings against at least one developer as part of a broader crackdown under the Real Estate (Dealers and Developers) Act.
Fraudsters stole licensed realtors’ “For Sale” signs from St Andrew, professionally altered the contact details, and re-planted them on different properties in Portland to redirect buyers to fake sellers. The Realtors Association of Jamaica has issued an urgent public warning.
The Real Estate Board has renewed its warning to the public to verify the licence of any real estate agent or dealer before engaging their services, after a series of complaints involving unlicensed operators who collected commissions, deposits, and fees without legal authority to do so.
The Real Estate Board’s developer registration regime under the Real Estate (Dealers and Developers) Act requires all developers selling off-plan units to register their schemes and provide buyers with a formal disclosure document. Buyers who are not given this document may be dealing with an unregistered developer.
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