Kingston, Jamaica — 3 March 2026
A renewed debate in New York over a controversial property seizure and transfer programme is raising wider questions about how governments deal with tax-delinquent and dangerously neglected buildings — and whether similar mechanisms could have relevance for countries like Jamaica, where thousands of unfinished or abandoned homes quietly shape the landscape.
In New York, lawmakers are attempting to redesign a former “Third Party Transfer” system that allowed the city to foreclose on severely tax-delinquent and hazardous properties and transfer them to approved non-profits or developers. The new proposal aims to correct past constitutional and equity concerns by ensuring property owners can reclaim surplus value if a building is sold for more than the taxes owed.
While Jamaica does not operate a comparable structured transfer system for distressed housing, the underlying issue — what to do with properties that fall into long-term disrepair — is highly relev…
