KINGSTON, Jamaica—The National Housing Trust (NHT) has officially announced that January 1, 2026, will mark the commencement of the application period for refunds of contributions made during the 2018 fiscal year. This timeline was confirmed through an official media release issued this Wednesday.
The Trust emphasized that while the new refund cycle formally begins on that date, eligible contributors retain the flexibility to submit applications at any point throughout the year for contributions made in 2018 or prior years. The NHT specifically noted that all current mortgagors with accounts in good standing qualify to reclaim their 2018 contributions.
In a significant modernization move, the organization has mandated that all refund requests must be processed exclusively through digital channels. Applicants are required to utilize either the official NHT website (www.nht.gov.jm) or the dedicated ‘NHT Online’ portal (online.nht.gov.jj). The Trust additionally revealed that a new mobile application is currently in development and is scheduled for public release within the upcoming year.
The NHT issued several critical guidelines for applicants: Individuals must ensure they exclusively use secure, official platforms and avoid third-party websites. Accuracy in submitting personal details—including complete names, banking information, and contribution history—is paramount, as errors will likely necessitate reapplication and cause substantial processing delays. Applicants must have their National Identification Scheme (NIS) and Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) documents readily accessible during the process.
The Trust maintains a 15-business-day service standard for correctly submitted applications and strongly advises against multiple submissions unless specifically instructed by an NHT representative. All approved refunds will be disbursed exclusively via direct bank deposit.
Concurrently, the NHT has issued heightened cybersecurity warnings, noting that fraudulent communications typically surge at the beginning of new refund cycles. The organization advised contributors to disregard unsolicited emails, verify all sender addresses, and avoid clicking suspicious links. Official NHT communication will only occur to confirm successful applications or to address specific processing issues.