Housing Consumers Protection Bill submission deadline looming

Stakeholders in the built environment (ie, housing consumers, developers, home builders, contractors, professionals and their respective organisations, financiers) are reminded and implored to submit their written comments on the proposed Housing Consumers Protection Bill by 30 October 2019.

Any interested persons or institutions are invited to submit written comments or representations with regards to the draft Bill within 60 days of publication in the Government Gazette, which was published on 30 August 2019 in one of the following ways:

(a) By post to: The Director General

Department of Human Settlements Private Bag X644 Pretoria 0001 For attention: Rose Murray and Lisa Masilo

(b) Delivered to: The Director General

Department of Human Settlements Justice Mahomed Sunnyside, Pretoria For attention: Rose Murray and Lisa Masilo

(c) By electronic mail: [email protected] and [email protected]

(d) Enquiries: Lisa Masilo 012 444 9097 and Rose Murray 012 444 9283

The new Bill, once passed into Law, will allow the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), an agency of the Department of Human Settlements, to ensure adequate protection of housing consumers and effective regulation of the home building industry through, among others, strengthening protection measures, regulatory and enforcement mechanisms as well as prescribing appropriate sanctions or penalties against defaulting persons.

The department is currently on a roadshow and has already held information sessions in six provinces. Gauteng, Western Cape and Free State will happen in the month of November and will be streamed live via the DHS and NHBRC digital sites.