Regularise structures, property owners urged

24 Jun, 2022 - 00:06 0 Views
Regularise structures, property owners urged Mabelreign residents have been questioning the pegging of stands on wetlands in the suburb.

Suburban

PROPERTY OWNERS who have built houses and buildings in new and old suburbs without certificates of compliance have been urged to regularise their properties or the municipality will demolish the structures.

 Suburban Reporter 

However, the City of Harare said properties developed on prohibited land will not be regularised and face demolition.

In wards in the eastern, northern and western parts of the city, 14 suburbs are affected in Wards 5, 8, 16, 17, 18 and 41. Affected suburbs include Belvedere West (Ward 5), The Grange (Ward 8) Mabelreign, Madokero, Westlea and Tynwald (Ward 16), Borrowdale West (Ward 17), Borrowdale, Crowhill Extension (Ward 18), Marlborough, Bluff Hill, Goodhope, Adlynn and Tynwald North (Ward 41).    

In a statement, the City of Harare’s Department of Works said it was aware that property owners in various suburbs in areas without certificate of compliance had completed building structures which were occupied without approved building plans in violation the model building by-laws of 1977.

“Owners of such building structures mentioned above are advised to visit Building Inspectorate offices at Cleveland House, Leopold Takawira Street or their nearest district office for payment of their plan submission and regularisation fees and penalties,” the city’s Department of Works said in the statement.

For regularisation, property owners must provide the following information:

Proof of ownership of land

Approved copy Town Planning layout

Approved copy of Survey Diagram 

Approved Sewer and Water reticulation designs

Approved Road Engineering designs 

Register of Stand Numbers and allocation list of beneficiaries 

Status of Land, whether built or not built

Structural Engineers Report and Structural Certificate on Built-up structures without stage inspections

The City of Harare said its officials from the Development Control Unit and the Building Inspectorate will soon be visiting the affected suburbs for inspections.

“Teams of our Development Control Officers and Building Inspectors will soon be visiting all affected suburbs making door to door inspections of such properties. 

“Residents are kindly advised to co-operate with our inspectors who will be carrying official identification particulars. Failure to comply may result in demolition of such structures and any costs incurred will be recovered from the property owners. 

“Regularisation will not be allowed for properties that were developed on schools, institutions, wetlands and environmentally sensitive sites,” the municipality said.

 The other affected suburbs from the rest of the capital city are Dzivarasekwa Extension, Southlea Park, Stoneridge, Eyecourt, Saturday Retreat, Grobbie Park, Waterfalls, Budiriro Township, Msasa Park, Hatfield, Marimba Park, Warren Park, Kambuzuma, Glen Norah, Hatcliffe Extension, Mufakose District, Kuwadzana District, Mabvuku, Tafara and Glaudina.

The City of Harare’s regularisation notice followed immediately after the municipality had hiked its building plans, inspection fees and regularisation fees with all the charges quoted in United States dollar.

However, residents and developers have the option to pay the tariffs in local currency but at the prevailing official exchange rate of the day they will be paying.

Some residents have described the new fees as “madness” and a clear sign of desperation by the financially struggling council to increase its revenue generation.    Permit fees for trenching and gravel extraction have also been pegged in US dollars.

Below are the City Architect’s fees and penalties quoted in foreign currency:  

HIGH DENSITY AREA: RESIDENTIAL

Main House 343 

Out Building 343 

Double Storey 354 

Minimum Charge 343

 Boundary Wall 100

LOW DENSITY AREA: RESIDENTIAL 

Single Storey 505 

Double Storey 675 

Multi Storey 1293 

2nd Dwelling 505 

Out Building and Gazebo 404 

Pools (Fixed) 202 

Pre-Fabricated (Fixed) 395 

Boundary Wall/Brickwork Per Metre Run 162 

Minimum Charges (Fixed) 520

FLATS, TOWNHOUSES, TERRACCED/CLUSTER 

Single Storey 707 

Double Storey 2021 

Multi Storey 3233 

Minimum Fees 758

PENALTIES BUILDING WITHOUT APPROVED PLAN: DWELL: 

High Density 1515 

Low Density 3031 

Boundary Wall 1010 

Commercial/Industrial Single 14346 

Double 28288 

Boundary Wall 10012 

Other (for example minor structures) 2869 

Note: ADD SUBMISSION FEES TO THE PENALTIES 121

Search Fees (Low Density) 113 

Search Fees (High Density) 50 

Amended (Dwell) High Density 121 

Amended (Dwell) Low Density 226 

Amended (Commercial/Industrial) 675 

Amended Multi Storey 1572 

Dwell Certified (High Density) 226 

Dwell Certified (Low Density) 335 

Commercial/Industrial (True Certified) Single Storey 675

 Commercial/Industrial (True Certified) Double Storey 788 

Certificate of Occupation (High Density) Minimum 404 

Certificate of Occupation (Low Density) Minimum 808 

Certificate of Occupation (Commercial/Industrial) Minimum 2247 

DEVELOPMENT STAGE INSPECTIONS PER STAGE PER VISIT 

High Density 50 

Low Density 80 

Commercial/Industrial 424 

Inspection at Owners’ Request per visit 354 

DEVELOPMENT STAGE INSPECTIONS PENALTY FOR SKIPPING STAGES: 

High Density Per Stage 210 

Low Density Per Stage 3213 

Industrial/Commercial Per Stage 5557

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