Hundreds of contractors express interest as gov’t seeks to build 40,000 new homes

More than 260 contractors have submitted applications to build housing units under Guyana’s latest government programme, as authorities step up efforts to deliver 40,000 homes over five years and respond to rising demand for turnkey housing, Housing Minister Collin Croal said on Saturday.

The Ministry of Housing has received 268 expressions of interest (EOIs) from contractors, including firms specialising in modular construction, Croal said in a statement released on his Facebook page.

In the last five years, while the government paid significant attention to distributing houselots and allocated about 53,000. However, only about 4,000 houses were built in those five years – these included turnkey houses and young professional houses.

But with the new commitment, the government seeks to build an estimated 8,000 houses per year.

Under the Expression of Interest issued by the Ministry of Housing and the Central Housing and Planning Authority, contractors were invited to submit proposals for building housing units across all administrative regions of Guyana using public-private partnership arrangements.

The proposed units range from low-income homes of about 650 square feet to high-income houses of up to 1,800 square feet, as well as young professional units of at least 2,200 square feet, all to be delivered either as flat or elevated structures with standard finishes.

The EOIs closed on October 24, 2025, with the government indicating that successful bidders could be invited to construct one or multiple housing models as part of the national programme.

The minister said modular construction could help the government deliver homes at scale, particularly as demand grows among young professionals seeking completed houses rather than serviced land.

He said the demand for young professional housing has improved significantly. This is because, he said, as people become professionals, they are busy and many do not want the hassle of managing contractors or sourcing materials.

Construction under the new programme is expected to begin from 2026, with sites already identified across the country. Croal said engagements with shortlisted contractors will start soon.