CONSTRUCTING YOUR OWN PROPERTY …
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Consult and engage the professionals / experts ! Architects , civil engineers , and builders all provide expertise in their respective fields , and assist with the statutory procedures .
Determine that the land is classified as “ residential ”, i . e not agricultural . If not , an application for a Land Conversion Permit must be submitted to the Ministry of Agro-Industry .
Establish the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) or a Preliminary Environmental Report ( PER ). If necessary , applications are made to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development .
The most important : apply for the Building and Land Use Permit ( BLUP ) – which must be made to the relevant municipality or district council before construction of any building commences .
• Requires permission from the Central Electricity Board ( for all construction projects ), the Central Water Authority and the Wastewater Management Authority ( for new construction activities ).
• The scope of the permit extends to significant modifications , additions , or repair work on existing buildings ,
• According to the Building and Land Use Permit Guide , drawings prepared by a registered Professional Architect are compulsory for houses exceeding an area of 150m ².
Building ! The builder you appoint will manage and oversee the whole project , including taking responsibility for work carried out by other contractors . Consult organisations such as the Building and Civil Engineering Contractors Association when choosing your builder , to ensure their reputability and reliability .
• A contract with the builder is crucial – ensure it includes clauses indicating full project specifications , the costs and time scales for the project , and the legal guarantees that are in place .
• You may consider adding a “ retention ” clause which facilitates withholding between 5 % and 10 % of the total project cost , and is payable 2 or 3 months after completion , once you are confident that all is satisfactory with the build .
Design or plan your home , preferably with the help of a qualified architect .
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