Off-plan property sales — where buyers pay deposits or instalments for units in developments that have not yet been constructed — carry substantial risks in Jamaica. Developers who collect funds without registering under the REDDA framework leave buyers with little protection if the project stalls, is abandoned, or is never built. This report examines the regulatory framework and buyer protections.

Homeowners and property developers in Jamaica who engage unregistered or unvetted contractors face significant risks of project abandonment, defective construction, and financial loss. Contractors who collect substantial advance payments and then abandon projects — or deliver work far below the agreed standard — are a recurring problem in Jamaica’s residential construction sector. This report examines the legal framework and practical protections available.