The Honorable Zane DeSilva, Bermuda’s Minister of Housing, is standing firm on his recently announced plan to introduce a new style of housing—capsule and expandable container homes—following a wave of public criticism after his ministerial statement in the House of Assembly.
Speaking exclusively with TNN Trevor Lindsay, Minister DeSilva emphasized the urgency of addressing Bermuda’s worsening housing crisis.
“We are in desperate need of housing in the country,” DeSilva said. “As I mentioned in my ministerial statement, we have over 300 families currently seeking homes, and about 70 of those families are in what we call critical need.”
According to the Minister, “critical” circumstances include families living in cars, crowded conditions, or unsuitable environments for children and the elderly.
“My goal,” he continued, “is to provide housing as quickly as possible. We’re a new ministry, and after finding our footing, we’ve been working to find real, immediate solutions for Bermudians in desperate situations.”
•Introducing Capsule and Container Homes
DeSilva revealed that his ministry has identified capsule and expandable container homes as viable short-term solutions to Bermuda’s housing shortage.
“Quite frankly, I would live in either one of these in a heartbeat,” he said confidently. “Some have suggested that this makes us look like a third-world country, but absolutely not. These are beautiful, well-designed homes that our people in critical positions will be proud to live in.”
When asked about the impact of Bermuda’s salt-laden climate on these structures, DeSilva reassured that the materials—particularly the aluminum used in capsule homes—are built to withstand island conditions.
“Salt affects everything in Bermuda,” he admitted. “But these materials have been chosen carefully, and they’ll hold up well. Even Bermuda stone isn’t immune to the salt, so this is as durable as it gets.”
•Existing Housing Programs Still Active
The Minister also addressed concerns about the status of the Bermuda Housing Corporation’s refurbishment program, which supports homeowners willing to renovate properties for rental housing.
“That program is still ongoing,” DeSilva confirmed. “Unfortunately, progress has been slower than we’d hoped because of ownership disputes—some properties don’t have clear title or have multiple family members who can’t agree.”
He explained that the ministry currently provides up to $125,000 per unit for refurbishment but noted that costs often exceed that amount once electrical and plumbing work are completed. Efforts are underway to increase that support.
“We’ve had over 20 people express interest so far,” he said. “We’re working diligently to get this moving.”
• Landlord Confidence and Tenant Protections
DeSilva also acknowledged the strained relationship between landlords and tenants in Bermuda, noting that both sides have faced challenges.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “Landlords have had bad experiences with tenants, and tenants have had bad experiences with landlords.”
To address this, Minister Alexa Lightbourne is leading an initiative to modernize the long-outdated Landlord and Tenant Act.
“You can look forward to early in the new year for that legislation to come to the table,” DeSilva said. “There will be public consultation because this affects everyone.”
• Looking Ahead
Despite the pushback, Minister DeSilva remains confident that the capsule and container home initiative will provide immediate relief to struggling families while broader housing reforms take shape.
“We have mothers, children, and elderly citizens in urgent need of safe shelter,” he concluded. “My responsibility is to protect them—and to act now, not years from now.”
Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful, or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites, or repeats previous comments will be removed.
User comments posted on this website are solely the views and opinions of the comment writer and are not a representation of or reflection of the opinions of TNN or its staff.
TNN reserves the right to remove, edit or censor any comments.
TNN accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for the comments made by users.