Today the housing regulator issued guidelines addressing the management of COVID-19 in residential construction sites for public comment. This is part of our efforts as the regulator in the homebuilding industry, to ensure the spread of the virus is contained and protect the health and safety of our employees and stakeholders on residential construction sites, and any other persons who may be directly affected.

The draft Guidelines to Manage Non- & Government Housing Projects During and Post COVID-19 Lockdown can be accessed from our website.

These draft guidelines are informed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85/1993); Construction Regulations 2014; Disaster Management Act, 2002; and Regulations issued in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002. Stakeholders in the built environment (i.e. developers, home builders, contractors, professionals and their respective organisations) are particularly encouraged to submit their comments on the draft guidelines by 12h00 on Wednesday, 27th of May 2020 via email to theceo@nhbrc.org.za

The NHBRC as a statutory body, advocates the adherence to the Disaster Management Act, 2002: Amendment of Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) due to COVID19 lockdown. We are able to provide limited services from home such as enrolments, registrations, renewals and customer complaints handling through dedicated provincial email addresses. We’re currently unable to issue enrolment / registration certificates through emails for security reasons and risk mitigation against cyber fraud.

All home construction sector and sub-sectors are envisaged to be impacted, including;

1. Rapid Informal Settlement Support Programme (RISSUP),
2. Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP),
3. Social Housing Rental Programme,
4. Transitional Residential Units (TRA’s),
5. Permanent Residential Areas (PRA’s). and
6. Commercial developments.

As an agency of the Department of Human Settlements, we support all the national covid-19 interventions aimed at providing citizens with dignified accommodation and access to clean water, thus contributing to reducing the risks of infection associated with overcrowding. Physical distancing, general screening and monitoring; provision of PPE and good hygiene practices are some of our preventative strategies in the fight against covid-19 at work sites.

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For an interview request and any other assistance, please contact Molebogeng Taunyane on email: molebot@nhbrc.org.za or 011 317 0070 / 082 646 8663.

About the NHBRC

The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) is an agency of the Department of Human Settlements which is responsible for the protection of housing consumers and to regulate the home building industry. The NHBRC also offers services such as enrolment of new homes, home builder registration, home building inspections, builder training, geotechnical and materials engineering. More importantly, the NHBRC manages a Warranty Fund, which all homeowners contribute towards as part of their registration (or enrolling their homes). This fund is meant to act as an insurance cover for a period of five years from date of occupation of the new home and covers the following;

1. One-year roof leakage cover,
2. 5 year major structural defects.

Consumers are encouraged to:

• Use an NHBRC registered builder and sub-contractors.
• Registering or Enrolling a new home 15 days before you start building.
• Demand a minimum of four inspections to be conducted during construction.
• Make sure that one is satisfied with the quality of their new home before signing a “happy letter”.
• Address any construction related issues with the builder in the first three months of moving into a new home, to take advantage of the Warranty Cover.

For more information:
nhbrc.org.za.
Twitter: @NHBRC
Facebook: NHBRCSA
Toll-free number: 0800 200 824
Ethics Hotline: 0800 203 698 or email nhbrc@behonest.co.za