8 FAQ About the NHBRC
The NHBRC – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (Q&A’S)
The NHBRC used to have a page with a number of Q&A’s (questions and answers) that we now give you on this website. The most common questions and answers we have listed here below.
We must point out to all homeowners and potential homeowners, as well as all contractors and home builders, that the new home being built must, by law, be registered with the NHBRC.
The builder or contractor also has to be registered with the NHBRC.
The NHBRC will not consider a claim or complaint if this is not done. If the house or contractor has not been registered then they have broken the law and might be liable to a fine.
There are links to the NHBRC site at the end of the Q&A’s where you will find more answers.
Q – How Does One Know Whether A Builder Is Registered With The NHBRC?
A – The NHBRC has established customer centers in all provinces. To find out if a builder is registered with the NHBRC you can contact your nearest customer center, search online or by calling the toll free number 0800200824.
Q – Does The NHBRC Conduct Inspections?
A – Every new house constructed must be inspected. If the house is enrolled prior to construction, the NHBRC is afforded the opportunity to carry out all necessary inspections. The number of inspections conducted per house is a function of the size and the complexity of the design of the house.
Q – What Does The NHBRC Inspect?
A – The following inspections are carried out:
Foundations
Roof height
Practical completion
Stormwater
Carpentry
Plumbing
Electrical
And waterproofing
More Q&A’s Below
Q – How Many Inspections Are Carried Out By The NHBRC In The Building Process Up To Completion Of A House?
A – A minimum of four inspections are carried out to ensure that the house is of good quality and that it will be fit for habitation. Housing consumers and home builders are encouraged to demand an inspection from the NHBRC during construction.
Q – How Does The NHBRC Handle Complaints?
A – The NHBRC has established complaint handling mechanisms, which have assisted many housing consumers. Each complaint is professionally and speedily processed on behalf of the housing consumer. According to our records the NHBRC has not failed any housing consumer who had a genuine structural defect. All home owners, public and private institutions and media houses are advised to send all the complaints received by it to the NHBRC for evaluation.
Q – What Should a Home Owner Do When There Is a Problem with a Builder’s Work?
A – The housing consumer (home owner) should contact the home builder within three to seven days. The housing consumer can approach the NHBRC if the home builder fails to attend to the problem.
Q – Under What Circumstances Will The NHBRC Do Remedial Work To My House?
A – The NHBRC is responsible for repair of major structural defects which occur to an enrolled home. The process is initiated once it is established that the home builder is either liquidated, unwilling or is unable to undertake remedial works. When the homebuilder disputes the findings and recommendations in the conciliation report or the recommendation of a competent person (Engineer), the NHBRC will assist the housing consumer by undertaking remedial work.
Q – What Happens If Major Structural Defects Arise Within The First Five Years Of Occupation?
A – The NHBRC’s fund for rectification covers a home which includes:
Private drainage system from the structure up to the municipal connection or the cesspit connection
Any garage or storeroom
Any permanent outbuilding designed for residential purposes
Any retaining wall
In the case of sectional title unit, it includes the common property in terms of the sectional Titles Act.
Have a look for more info on the NHBRC site.
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Vincent I suggest you contact the NHBRC – or have a look at their database online. The municipality may also have some suggestions. Just be sure that the person you use is registered with the NHBRC.
Hi KG,
Get hold of the NHBRC they help builders and developers with the documentation that you want, check their website for addresses and phone numbers here: NHBRC website
Subject:
terms and conditions
Message:
Hi i have just opened up a construction company and would like if someone could share with me a standard terms and conditions invoice used in the building trade.
Subject:
List of regitered builders
Message:
I urgently need a registered builder with reputable tracking record to build a house in KwaMsane (Mtubatuba). I have already secured land and my plan has been approved by the Municipality. Please assist
Hi there
Could you tell me if a builder is responsible for drainage and levels after a build or is it the landscapers responsibility?
Many thanks
please come and help webought damp new homes, faulty geysers, cracked walls, these ar newly built homes sold at 600000 – 700000,we became tenant in 2011. Please help
I need the nhbrc to contact me or supply me with a office number in arcadia pretoria regarding development
Hi Ryan,
It is difficult to make a judgement call on this as I am not sure how strong or stable the “concrete roof” is. I suggest you find out from the people who constructed the roof if it is strong enough to take the weight of people using it as a deck. To answer your question, no there should not be any restrictions you using the roof as a deck. Only that for safety council will want you to put up a railing around the area done to NBR specs. If you want to go all out and have another floor with a covered patio then you will have to get plans done and submitted.
Hi D Motala,
You better get hold of the NHBRC then, the link to the NHBRC website is on this page.
Hi Patrick,
You better get hold of the NHBRC then, the link to the NHBRC website is on this page.
Hi Johan,
You better get hold of the NHBRC then, the link to the NHBRC website is on this page.
Can you please mail me the documents I have to fill out for the renewal of my NHBRC enrollment
Good day
I would like to register the company with the NHBRC.Kindly send me guidelines and forms
Can you email me documents/info as to how I can register as a developer
Hi Nadine,
They would both have Agrément certificates for the tile so the quality should be the same. the only difference will be the design and how they are layed and fixed to the roof beams/battens.
Apologies if this is a stupid question, but can anyone advise on the difference between a Marley and a Corobrik double roman roof tile? Besides the price…
Hi,
I current have a flatlet in the yard of my plot. The flat has a concrete roof and i would essentailly either like to deck it out such that I get an awesome view or alternatively go up a level and have a patio on the top level to access the view.
Is there resitictions prohibiting me from doing this? i.e. do i need permission, if so will this permission be required for the deck option as well?
please advise,
Thanks,
Ryan
Tobi you are not qualified or registered with the necessary organizations in South Africa so you are absolutely NOT “able to manage the foundation and the construction of walls and roof”. It would be totally illegal for you to do this unless there is a superior person in charge of the project – a competent person – i.e. an architect or an engineer who IS registered. They would then ultimately be responsible for the foundations etc.
And a short answer to your question regarding the NHBRC is NO! If the owner is planning to owner build, he/she needs an exemption from the NHBRC – and then will need to follow the regular process as described above and elsewhere on this web site. If he/she is employing a building contractor (you do mention a contractor) that person/company needs to be registered with the NHBRC and the house needs to be enrolled. The NHBRC will then do its regular inspections. They do not offer services as such.
Tobi your question doesn’t make sense. I have no idea what you are aiming to do. Build? Apply for membership to the NHBRC? Write a project! Building applications go to the local authority – with plans for approval. There is all the information you need in the section on the NHBRC on this site PLUS on their site. I suggest you start by reading this.
Hi Anne,
This is a major problem in SA, trying to find an honest reliable builder from all the chancers does not seem to be easy. The best place to start is with the NHBRC database. Even though the NHBRC are only concerned with brand new houses their database of builders does give a status for the builders. They are either registered, expired, suspended, de-registered or on hold. You can search by province as well. It does not give contact details but if you do a search for the name I am sure you can find them fairly easily. If they are too big a construction company to handle your job then ask them if they can recommend one. There is also the Master Builders Association, they have offices in all provinces that you can contact on their website here: mbsa.org.za Or you can call the head office here: 011 205 9000
So what I want to find out is, if the NHBRC offers an outline builing application and how far they do this, if they do. And i would like to know if this is a general free service or not, or when is a project so complex to the NHBRC that an outline building application cannot be required easily and for free.
Sorry for the lot of text and questions, these things are new to me and I have to find in. Of course I try to get answers for my questions directly from the NHBRC. Anyway, if you can help me a little bit would mean much help to me. Thank you.
Hello, I´m a still a student (architecture) and I´m doing a design for a game lodge.
I live in Germany, just like the owner of the area were the game lodge should be build. They own an area about 30 miles northern Port Elisabeth, so they have already a home there for more than 10 years now. The first (pre-)Design for the gamelodge is already finish. I´m also a mason with graduation, so they want me to do the work as a project manager. A lot of work should be done by people without an employment.
I´m able to manage the foundation and the construction of walls and roof. So I need engineers who do
inspections for my planing (exact calculations) and also for the building process. If I understood right, it is necessary to do this, so the inspectors give green light and the work can go on. Anyway, if law or not, I have to be sure about my planing calculations so far, so I need someone who is able to help me developing my design, especially in questions of detailing.
Further the owner and me are in Germany right now, so I have to do the most important step in planing
almost in the end-phase of the planing process: research about the ground-situation (if necessary on my own with ground-probing) and the grounding with terrain-sections. I guess I will need some kind of an approval before any work can start.
How I said in the beginning, I´m still a student, so I guess I have no legitimation at all to manage any building processes.
My question: Will the NHBRC help me? Do they offer services witch make a workflow able between the owner, the building contractor and me? Do you have any tips for me?
Hi
I am trying to find somewhere where I can find reputable builders, there are so many con artists out there, is there a link or a site that anybody knows or a builder in the JHB north area that can assist.
Hello Vees, We are not the NHBRC. You need to contact them directly – this link shows their contact details.
However my advice is that you withhold payment.
Hi NHBRC
I have a NHBRC registered builder whom has not completed the additions and alterations to my home. Additionally the workmanship with certain finishes, according to me was not of an acceptable standard. After confronting him with this, he now demands payment for stuff that was never contracted for before he completes the project? I am not in a position nor prepared to pay him. What is my recourse?