Builders council sets up mobile offices in rural areas

HOMEOWNERS, potential buyers and emerging contractors based in rural areas will be able to access products and services of the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) throughout September.

NHBRC Eastern Cape spokesman Samkelo Gqeba said mobile offices will be set up in various venues in the O R Tambo and Alfred Nzo districts.

They have already been to Ngqeleni and were in Mthatha yesterday and plan to set up office in Port St Johns, Lusikisiki and KwaBhaca (Mount Frere).

Gqeba said the NHBRC is mandated by law to protect the interests of housing consumers and to ensure that builders comply with the building industry standards by using quality approved materials during construction.

He said NHBRC is based mainly in urban areas and that the mobile offices were set up in an effort to increase accessibility and service delivery to support emerging home builders in remote areas.

The mobile office unit is equipped with the latest technologies that enable the NHBRC to remotely attend to consumer complaints.

“Services being offered to the clients will include registrations and renewals, technical assistance, home enrolment, information on the training of home builders and consumer awareness,” said Gqeba.

Nombasa Ngoqo, NHBRC provincial manager, said: “Our insights indicate that many people, especially those who live in the rural areas, have very little knowledge about the NHBRC and its services.

“Equally, those, who know about the NHBRC have to travel long distances in order to access our services, which can be costly and time-consuming.

“The mobile office is scheduled to travel across the Eastern Cape providing NHBRC services to the rural outskirts of the province.” —