NHBRC: QUALITY is TOP PRIORITY
The National Home Builders Registration Council’s
(NHBRC) mandate is guided by the Housing Consumers
Measures Act, 1998 (Act No. 95 of 1998) whose objectives
are to regulate the home building industry, provide
protection to housing consumers in respect of the failure
of home builders to comply with their obligations in terms
of the Act, to provide warranty cover against defined
structural defects in new homes, to establish and promote
ethical, quality and technical standards in the home
building industry and in so doing protect the interests of
housing consumers.
the low cost housing (subsidy) sector. In February 2002
the Honourable Minister of Housing announced that the
NHBRC Warranty Scheme will apply in the housing subsidy
sector.
In the subsidy sector, the NHBRC has initiated remedial
works on housing subsidy failures. The organisation
enrols new housing builders, conducts geotechnical, civil
and structural assessments, inspects the building and
materials used and through its builder training programs
empowers builders in respect of product and technical
knowledge.
HOME BUILDERS NEED TO BE REGISTERED
ALTERNATIVE HOME BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES
In terms of the Act, any person in the business of building
homes must register with the NHBRC. Registration with
the NHBRC provides a licence and a right to build homes.
To qualify as a registered NHBRC home builder, applicants
are assessed on their technical, construction, management
and financial capability.
By law all new home builders have to be registered with
the NHBRC irrespective of the value of the planned house
development. This ensures that the home builder has
warranty cover against defined defects and that through
the comprehensive NHBRC inspection process, the
construction is ensured to be structurally sound and meets
NHBRC technical standards.
In instances where builders do not meet their obligations
(as stipulated by the Act) and where poor workmanship
has been uncovered, the NHBRC has a complaint and
remedial procedure to resolve such cases.
SUBSIDY HOUSING
At the onset, the mandate of the NHBRC did not cover
For more information, please contact the NHBRC:
0800 200 824 (Toll free)
or your provincial or satellite office nearest to you, or
go to www.nhbrc.org.za for more information
The NHBRC has been advocating the use of alternative
technology in the home building industry with the aim
of providing quick-to-erect, quality and affordable products
that would aid in eradicating the housing backlog in
the country. The Eric Molobi Housing Innovation Hub
was launched in 2007 with the objective of identifying
and supporting innovative housing systems developed
nationally and internationally, that will provide a wider
choice of quality and affordable homes to the housing
consumer.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUILDING INDUSTRY
Improving the lives of the South African people through
the provision of quality homes is a collective responsibility.
The NHBRC is in continuous engagement and consultation
with provincial governments to sensitise them on the risks
of utilising unregistered builders, and partnerships with
the private sector remain crucial to ensure that rules and
regulations are followed and standards in the building
industry are maintained.