Port-Louis, 28 July 2025: Container homes—once viewed as niche or temporary—are now gaining serious attention as viable, eco-conscious alternatives to conventional concrete houses. MCB Talk’s latest episode featuring Jean Lou Rosse, Development Manager at MCB’s Retail Banking, Gregory de Comarmond, Operations Manager at Velogic and Vincent Mamet, Director at Sunbox, explores why: rising construction costs, shrinking plot sizes, increasing environmental awareness, and a growing appetite for faster, more flexible, and reliable building solutions.
MCB is responding to this shift by becoming the first bank in Mauritius to offer mortgage financing for container homes, in partnership with Velogic and Sunbox—two of the island’s leading container home specialists. The decision follows a thorough evaluation of the legal, operational, and risk-related complexities involved in financing non-traditional dwellings.
A key factor is ensuring that container homes are immovable assets, allowing them to be used as collateral like any traditional home. The guests dispel common myths, such as container homes being less solid or unsuitable for cyclonic conditions. In fact, they explain, containers are built to withstand harsh marine environments and can be adapted with insulation and cladding for comfort and durability. When properly anchored, they are as stable—and in some ways more resilient—than concrete structures while remaining versatile.
Both Velogic and Sunbox report rising demand not only from young homeowners but also from older clients downsizing, and from investors exploring short-term rentals and ecotourism projects.
Affordability is another major draw. While container homes aren’t necessarily “cheap,” they can be cost-effective depending on design, size, and finishes. For houses under 120 square metres, they often come out cheaper than concrete equivalents. However, as the guests explain, Mauritians often have high expectations around interior finishes—think Italian showers and premium kitchens—which can drive up costs. That said, the modular nature of containers means that the larger the project, the lower the cost per square metre.
