What Steps Should I Take When My Housing Status Says I’m Approved? (2024)

The human settlement system (HSS) in South Africa is a complex and multifaceted endeavour aimed at addressing the housing needs of the country’s diverse population. These initiatives aim to provide affordable housing to low-income families, promote homeownership, and upgrade informal settlements. The government collaborates with various stakeholders, including private developers and non-governmental organizations, to achieve these goals.

The steps to take when your housing status says you are approved include visiting your municipality office to complete the required paperwork and subsequently receiving the title deed and keys to your new house. After applying, you must keep checking your portal until your housing status says you are approved before you can take any further steps.

What Steps Should I Take When My Housing Status Says I’m Approved?

Once your house is prepared for allocation, the municipality will notify you to visit their office and complete the necessary paperwork, including signing a letter and a Service Agreement. Subsequently, you will receive the keys to your new home, and if all goes well, you may also be granted the title deeds.

It should also be added that if the title is not yet available when you get your house, you should make sure that you keep checking. You must be aware of when this will be available and make sure you get it as soon as you can since this is the core thing that establishes you as the legal owner of your house.

How Do I Know If My Housing Status Has Been Approved?

After you have submitted your application, it is necessary to keep checking for when your housing status has been approved, as this is what will inform the next decision to take.

Fortunately, the agency in charge of this has made things easier for everyone by granting different options that you can opt for at your convenience. You can check your housing status online, via SMS, calls, email and physical visit.

How to Check My Housing Status Online

The most recommended step you can take to know if your housing status has been approved is to log onto the Housing Subsidy Portal wherever you are. This is very convenient as it can be done in any part of the country as long as you have a good device like a smartphone or laptop that is connected to the Internet. When you access the portal after the approval of your application, enter your ID number, and you will be able to see if or not your housing status has been approved.

If you are experiencing difficulties and cannot see what you are looking for, then be sure that it is not an internet connectivity issue. If your internet is good but you still can’t get into the portal to input your ID Number, then you can try out another Web browser to be sure all is on track.

How to check My Housing Status Via Physical Visit

If you want, to can visit your municipal office anywhere you reside to know if your housing status has been approved. All you have to do is to visit the place with your copy of your C Form. When you get there, they will check your details from their end just to be sure of where you are on the waiting list, and you will be duly involved.

How to Check My Housing Status Via SMS 

If you are not interested in using any of the above methods, then you can easily conduct a check via SMS too. All you have to do is send a text message to the number 44108 containing your ID number. You will also get back a message that indicates your status.

How to check My Housing Status Via Phone Call

You also have the option to phone the toll-free housing number at 0800 146 873. You will also need to say your ID number, which they will utilise on their end to check your status, and they will inform you whatever the result is.

How to Check My Housing Status Via Email 

Finally, folks can email info@dhs.gov.za to know if their housing has been approved or not. In the body of the email, you have to give them your ID number so they check for you and give you a response that contains the information you seek.

Of course, any one of these methods highlighted should inform you what the situation is with your application. However, it must be noted that due to various reasons, it can take a long while before your house is finally given to you. One of the key challenges facing the HSS in South Africa is the vast housing backlog. A lot of people still lack access to adequate housing, resulting in informal settlements or shantytowns in urban areas.

But it is a good thing to note that the government has implemented various programs, such as the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), the National Development Plan (NDP), and some other attempts. While we can’t ignore the challenges, we also can’t ignore the fact that South Africa is ahead of some other African countries when it comes to the development of inclusive and sustainable housing solutions.

Hss Housing Waiting List

The Housing Waiting List is a critical component of our Human Settlement System (HSS), representing a database of individuals and families who need affordable housing solutions. With the country’s housing disparities, addressing the housing backlog and ensuring equitable access to housing is a top priority.

It should be noted that South Africa faces a significant housing crisis characterized by a shortage of affordable and adequate housing units. This crisis is a direct result of the historical apartheid policies that systematically discriminated against non-white South Africans, resulting in segregated communities and limited access to housing and basic services.

Hence, a crucial step to solving these issues revolves around the activities of the Human Settlement System. It is an organised structure that expects folks interested to register and be on the Housing Waiting List – which becomes a crucial tool for the government and housing authorities to identify and prioritize those in need of housing assistance. It provides a transparent and structured approach to allocating available housing units.

The process starts with applying through the local municipality or housing department. The application process often involves submitting personal information, proof of income, and other relevant documentation. Applicants are then registered on the waiting list based on their eligibility and specific criteria, such as income level, family size, and vulnerability.

It must also be noted that priority for housing allocation is generally given to those in the most urgent need, such as low-income families, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those living in informal settlements or precarious conditions. The Waiting List helps authorities determine the order in which housing units are allocated. Despite all of these, the system faces challenges. One major issue is the sheer volume of applicants compared to the limited availability of housing units. This leads to long waiting periods, sometimes spanning several years, before individuals or families receive housing.

We must however place great emphasis on transparency and accountability. We can’t ignore the fact that transparency and fairness in managing the system are crucial to avoiding corruption and favouritism. Authorities must ensure that the allocation process is conducted transparently and that those who are genuinely in need receive housing assistance. But in all things, to address the housing crisis more effectively, the South African government should keep exploring various alternative solutions. These include partnerships with private developers, initiatives to encourage affordable housing construction, and upgrading informal settlements to provide basic services.

So, if you have registered already, you will be on the Housing Waiting List. If you have been there for long, you still have to be patient or take other means of getting your own house (such as working harder to make money, exploiting other channels of getting resources, etc.).

While not perfect yet, the government is trying to play a pivotal role in the ongoing efforts to rectify historical housing disparities and provide adequate housing for all citizens. The commitment of both government and civil society to this cause remains strong, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that every South African has access to safe and dignified housing.

Related:

• hssonline.gov.za – Housing Subsidy Portal – How To Apply?
• How Much Does A RDP House Cost In South Africa?
• Top 11 Courier Subcontracting Opportunities In South Africa
• How To Check Your RDP House Status Online
• Top 13 Funding For Property Development In South Africa

Conclusion

The Steps You Should Take When Your Housing Status Says You Are Approved is that once your house is prepared for allocation, the municipality will notify you to visit their office and complete the necessary paperwork, which includes signing a letter and a Service Agreement. Subsequently, you will receive the keys to your new home, and if all goes well, you may also be granted the title deeds.