HAVE YOUR SAY – GPL INVITES PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THE HOUSING CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL B10B-2021

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature invites all interested stakeholders and individuals to comment on the Housing Consumer Protection Bill B10B-2021,

The Bill revokes the current Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act (Act No. 95 of 1998). Since the declaration of the Act on 4 June 1999, the National Home Builders Registration Council has identified several challenges with certain key provisions of the Act, which impacted negatively on the efficient execution of the Council’s mandate.

The said challenges include the inadequate protection of housing consumers, the transformation of the industry, the high risk of litigation, the inadequate enforcement powers, the ineffective alternative dispute resolution mechanism and the excessive turnaround time of the current enforcement procedures.

To this end, the Bill seeks to ensure adequate protection of housing consumers and effective regulation of the home building industry by strengthening the regulatory mechanisms; expanding the protection to housing consumers; introducing effective enforcement tools and prescribing appropriate penalties /sanctions to deter non -compliance by home builders.

In addition, the Bill creates an enabling environment for new entrants into the home building industry through the introduction of contractual provisions to ensure their sustainability in the market. The economic transformation of the industry is also addressed by the introduction of provisions such as the warranty fund surplus which can be utilised towards human settlements’ developmental programmes, and to provide for matters connected therewith.

All interested parties in the Housing Consumer Protection Bill are invited to give their input using any of the following options:
Written submissions should preferably be submitted via e-mail but will also be received on paper on or before Friday,02 June 2023.

If you may require additional information, please contact the Senior Committee Co-ordinator Ms Jackie Moteke at 079 522 8669 or e-mail jmoteke@gpl.gov.za or Committee Administrator Ms Njabulo Nzimakwe at 071 609 2681or nnzimakwe@gpl.gov.za.

1. Attend a public hearing on Friday, 2 June 2023, Venue : Cnr Beaconsfield & Leslie St 1939 Vereeniging Banquet Hall, Time: 10:00am alternatively live stream on the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s YouTube channel or Facebook pages on same day.
2. The Copy of the Bill, presentations from the National Department of Human Settlements and the National Council of Provinces Legal opinion on the Bill are available on www.gpl.gov.za

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