Guyana aims to clear housing backlog by end of 2027, says President Ali
Key Points(5)
- Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced a government plan to eliminate the country’s housing backlog by the end of 2027, with pending applications in every administrative region except Region Four expected to be addressed by that time.
- During a social media address on Thursday, Ali said his administration had surpassed its commitment to distribute 50,000 house lots over the past five years, but demand for housing has continued to rise due to growing economic confidence and an increase in new applications.
- “As of early 2026, Guyana faces a housing backlog of approximately 75,000 to 78,000 pending applications.
- What is interesting is that over 50,000 of that backlog is concentrated in Region Four,” Ali said.
- The president noted that 53,000 house lots were distributed between 2020 and 2025, but the number of new applicants has kept pressure on the housing system.
Guyana President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced a government plan to eliminate the country’s housing backlog by the end of 2027, with pending applications in every administrative region except Region Four expected to be addressed by that time.
During a social media address on Thursday, Ali said his administration had surpassed its commitment to distribute 50,000 house lots over the past five years, but demand for housing has continued to rise due to growing economic confidence and an increase in new applications.
“As of early 2026, Guyana faces a housing backlog of approximately 75,000 to 78,000 pending applications. What is interesting is that over 50,000 of that backlog is concentrated in Region Four,” Ali said.
The president noted that 53,000 house lots were distributed between 2020 and 2025, but the number of new applicants has kept pressure on the housing system.
To address the backlog, the government has developed region-specific strategies, including acquiring additional land, developing new housing schemes and accelerating infrastructure projects.
Ali said Regions One, Three, Five, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten are expected to clear their backlogs by the end of 2027, while Region Eight is projected to achieve that target by the end of 2026.
For Region Two, where demand continues to increase, the government is pursuing additional state and privately owned land to meet both current and future housing needs.
The president acknowledged that Region Four, which includes the capital Georgetown and surrounding areas, remains the most difficult challenge because of limited land availability.
“The amount of land being acquired in Region Four currently can only clear 50 percent of this backlog by the end of 2027. That is why we are investing heavily in Silica City and opening up new housing areas along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway,” Ali said.
The government has invested nearly $240 billion in the housing sector over the past five years, funding the distribution of house lots, development of new communities and efforts to increase homeownership opportunities nationwide.
Ali said the government’s housing agenda is now shifting beyond simply providing house lots toward helping more families acquire completed homes through expanded financing options, affordable housing programmes and targeted assistance for vulnerable citizens.
“We believe that every Guyanese who is qualified, every Guyanese family qualified, should be able to live in their own home,” the president said.
