Department of Housing FAQs

How do I get a house?
First you must make an application and have your name put on the waiting list. You can do this at the housing unit of the local authority office in your region or at the customer support centre 37 sauer street Johannesburg.

How many waiting lists are there?
There is only one list. There used to be many different lists, but now one list is used for all possible types of housing. The different municipalities works together with Gauteng Province in maintaining the list.

How many people are on the waiting list?
There are approximately 650 0000 names on the waiting list.

How do I get on the list?
You must go to customer support centre or the local authority offices in your region, where your name will be put on the list. When your name has been entered on the database, you will be given a Form C.

How do I check if I am on the list?
You can check with the customer support centre or go to the local authority offices in your region. They will be able to check the database and tell you if you are on the list.

What is a Form C?
This is the receipt you get when you have put in an application for housing. It means that you are on the waiting list. It shows the date on which you applied, your ID number and your application number. Always take this form with you when you go to the local authority office in your region.

How do I rent a flat?
You need to be on the list in order to get a rented flat. You will be informed if there is a vacancy and will need to go into your regional office to sign the lease agreement and organize payments.

What is a housing subsidy?
This is a grant which the government provides for housing purposes. It will not be given as cash.

Do I qualify for a housing subsidy?
To qualify you must be:

• 21 years or older;
• Married or single with dependants or living with a long-term partner;
• Unemployed or earning not more than R7000 per month;
• A South African citizen or a foreigner with a permanent residence permit;
• A first time home-owner;
• Not have received any government housing assistance before.

Where can I apply for a subsidy?
You can apply at the local authority offices in your region, at the housing unit or at the customer support centre.

How can I apply for a subsidy?
You will need the following documents:

• Your ID book;
• Your spouse's ID book;
• Birth certificates of your children or other dependants;
• Proof of your income if you are employed;
• Proof (such as an affidavit) of other dependants such as your extended family.
• Where is the customer support centre and how do I contact them?
• At 37 Sauer street, Department of Housing Johannesburg.
• You can also contact them by telephone on 0800 046 873:
  Monday to Thursday: 07h00-17h00
  Friday: 07h00-14h00
  Saturday: 08h30-13h00

If our combined income (mine and my spouse) is over R7000 do I still qualify for the subsidy?
When your joint income is more than R7000 you will not qualify - however if you apply individually and being below R7000 you do qualify.

Smart Bond FAQs

Who are we?
FNB Housing Finance is a unit in the retail bank focusing on the affordable housing market. This is the market where households earn less than R10 000.00 per month, and more than R2500-00. We currently have approx 25,500 customers and 110 staff.

What costs are involved when purchasing a house?
Apart from the price of the house or of the building work that you are carrying out, there can be a lot of other costs associated with getting a house of your own. These include initiation fees, valuation fees and the costs of home owners insurance. There are also transfer costs as well as registration costs which need to be taken into account.

How much can I afford to buy for?
The amount of the Home Loan that we can give you is based on the maximum monthly repayment that you can afford to make. This is usually between 25% and 30% of the total income that you and your partner earn (including any subsidies that you may get). When working out how much you can afford, your partner can be someone other than your spouse. It is important that you work out your monthly expenses ahead of time and make sure that you can afford the monthly repayments on your home loan.

Can I include my costs into the principle amount applied for?
Yes you can include the costs of the bond registration and transfer into the bond amount applied for. You will still need to be approved through the credit system for that amount.

What is the difference between Life Insurance and Homeowners Insurance?
a. Life insurance is a policy taken out on the life of the Home owner. In other words should you or your spouse pass away (the policy then needs to be in both names), the life cover will pay out the remaining balance of the bond so that no further repayments have to be made by the remaining spouse. Thus your Home Loan will be repaid in full.
b. The Homeowners Insurance is to cover the structural side of the property. Should your geyser burst or you have serious cracks in your house (after investigation and approval), the Homeowners cover will pay for the fixing of such items. There is normally an excess that needs to be paid from your own pocket.

What if I want to build a house?
a. If you are planning to build your own home, the Smart Bond Building Loan will take care of your building needs. You would first need to choose the area where you would like to build. It should be an official township or suburb. There must be access to water and electricity, a waterborne sewage system, garbage collection and other similar services in the area.
b. The stand where you want to build your house should not have any rocks, vegetation or standing water on it. You should ask your builder or developer if the condition of the ground where your house is being built was analysed and if there is an engineers certificate or report for the stand.
c. It is important to think about the things that you and your family will need to use everyday. Such as roads, schools, shops, banks and many other important things.

Do you have more information on building loans and what is needed?
a. You should not choose to build a type of house that will cost more than the housing loan that you can get (see the capital and interest repayment table to see how much this is)
b. You must decide on the details that you want inside your house (colour of paint, types of tiles and so on)
c. The builder or developer will help you make your decisions and will make sure your choices will not cost more than you have planned for.
d. The builder or developer who is working on your house must be registered with the National Home Builder's Registration Council (NHBRC)

What is the NHBRC and what does it mean for me as a customer?
If the builder or developer who is working on your house is registered with the NHBRC there are laws that say he must give you a Residential Unit Enrolment Certificate for your new house once he has finished building. This certificate gives you a five-year warranty against large structural defects (house structure, roof structure and foundations). This means that, if there are any problems or defects with the structure of your house, the builder will have to fix them at his own cost.

What do I need to apply for a Building Loan?
You will need to fill out a Smart Bond application form and give it to us together with the following documents:

i. A copy of your ID document (and that of any other person who is applying for the loan with you, eg: Husband or Wife)
ii. Proof of income by means of an original copy of a pay slip that is not older than one month (and that of the person who is applying for the loan with you, eg: Husband of Wife)
iii. Building plans (first the provisional ones and then the approved ones)
iv. Building tender or quotation
v. Building contract (signed by you and the builder or developer)
vi. Schedule of finishes
vii. Minimum specification and schedule of finishes
viii. The builder's All Risk Insurance Policy
ix. The builder's waiver of lien
x. Copy of the engineer's certificate/report for foundations
xi. Residential Unit enrolment Certificate

What do I need for a normal Smart Bond loan?
a. You will need a valid ID document (you and your spouse, if applicable)
b. Completed application form
c. Salary advice/pay slip (you and your spouse, if applicable)
d. Banking details

Where can I obtain a Smart Bond application?
If you need personal attention and a quick answer on your Home Loan, please talk to:

i. Your estate agent or Mortgage originator
ii. Your first National Bank Housing Finance Consultant
iii. Your nearest First National Bank branch
iv. Contact the Customer Service Centre on 0860 644 644
v. There is a quick application inside the back sleeve of the brochure

Contact us:
For any further questions or queries, please call our Customer Service Centre on 0860 644 644 for assistance.