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Chapter 11
Related Sections
1
INTRODUCTION
2
LAND
3
What is the government’s land policy?
4
Laws and court cases that apply to the land reform programme
5
Municipal governments and their role in land, land tenure and evictions
6
Land restitution
7
Land redistribution and land grants
8
Other land reform initiatives
9
Land tenure reform
10
Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) (No 62 of 1997) and the Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Act (No 2 of 2018)
11
Land Rights Management Board and Committees
12
Possible repeal of ESTA and the Land Tenure Security Bill
13
Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE) (No 19 of 1998)
14
Dealing with land claims and other land reform disputes – the Land Claims Court
15
Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (No 16 of 2013) (SPLUMA)
16
HOUSING
17
What is the government’s housing policy?
18
Laws passed to ensure access to quality housing
19
The housing subsidy
20
Types of housing subsidies
21
The role of development workers in helping people to access housing subsidies
22
The role of local government and housing
23
BUYING A HOUSE
24
The offer to purchase
25
Transfer
26
Defects in a house
27
RENTING A HOUSE
28
Tenants, landlords and leases
29
The Rental Housing Act (No 50 of 1999)
30
Rental Housing Amendment Act (No 35 of 2014)
31
EVICTIONS FROM RENTED PROPERTY
32
Trespassing
33
PROBLEMS
34
Problem 1: A landlord applies for a civil eviction order
35
Problem 2: Being arrested and charged with trespassing
36
Problem 3: Protecting dismissed farmworkers against eviction
37
Problem 4: Protecting labour tenants against losing land
38
Problem 5: Provision of land, housing and services for homeless people
39
Problem 6: Negotiating to upgrade an informal settlement
40
Problem 7: Applying for an individual housing subsidy
41
Problem 8: Common problems in renting a house or flat
42
Problem 9: Falling behind on rent, rates and service payments to the local council
43
Problem 10: The hidden costs of buying a house
44
Problem 11: Falling behind on bond payments
45
Problem 12: Problems with a house you bought
46
Problem 13: Getting money from the Land Bank for farming
47
CHECKLISTS
48
Checklist: General Land and Housing
49
Checklist: Paying off a house that you have bought

Problem 7: Applying for an individual housing subsidy

Veronica is a single, divorced parent supporting three children. She earns R2 500 per month doing odd domestic duties. She has never received a housing subsidy before and would now like to apply. Will she qualify and how can she apply for a subsidy?

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

The law says that a person may apply for an individual housing subsidy if they are South African, over 21 years of age and earning between R0-R3 500 R0-R3 500 per month. The person must also either be married or single but with dependants, they cannot have owned a house or property anywhere in South Africa, and may not have received a housing subsidy in the past. According to these criteria it seems that Veronica will qualify for an individual housing subsidy.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Veronica can apply to the local council housing department for a housing subsidy. She will have to take the following documents with her:

  • Identity document,
  • Birth certificates of her children,
  • Her divorce papers
  • Recent payslip as proof of income. (See Individual Subsidy: Buying a house as an individual household)