strata title fraud Jamaica

Strata title ownership in Jamaica, governed by the Strata Titles Act, creates a framework for shared ownership of condominium and apartment developments. Where that framework is abused — through the misappropriation of strata corporation funds, the fraudulent sale of common area or roof rights, or the manipulation of strata meetings — individual unit owners suffer real financial harm.

Jamaica’s strata developments — multi-unit residential and commercial complexes registered under the Strata Titles Act — are governed by body corporates that collect maintenance contributions from unit owners and manage common areas and shared services. When body corporate officers misappropriate maintenance funds, neglect shared infrastructure, or manipulate governance processes, all unit owners suffer.

The National Housing Trust’s housing schemes represent one of the largest concentrations of property ownership among ordinary Jamaicans, and they have been targeted by benefit fraud, strata title manipulation, and disputes over common areas. This report examines how NHT contributors have been defrauded within housing scheme arrangements and what protections the Strata Titles Act provides.