HWANGE – Hwange Local Board (HLB) has implemented a new regulation requiring all landlords to display their property number prominently outside their premises. Failure to follow these rules will result in hefty fines, causing concern among some residents.

The HLB published a public notice explaining the rationale for the new regulations. The notice states: “We wish to inform residents that in accordance with the Hwange Local Council Regulations and the Urban Councils Act, the council has made it mandatory for property owners to display their property number outside, whether in any visible location at the front of the house. at home or near the gate. For the purposes of facilitating identification by any member of the service in the event of an emergency, any owner or occupant of premises must ensure that the exact street number of the premises is clearly displayed on the street boundary of the premises in digits. at least 75 millimeters in height; is visible from the street and is maintained in a readable state at all times.

The council highlights the importance of clear property numbering for emergency services. Fast and accurate location identification is crucial for responding to emergencies, such as fires, medical emergencies or other urgent situations. The new regulations aim to streamline this process, ensuring emergency responders can quickly locate the correct property.

The HLB has set November 29, 2024 as the deadline for owners to comply with the new regulations. Failure to do so will be considered a Level 2 offense, punishable by significant fines. The notice specifies a fine, tiered structure based on property type: US$10 for high-density properties, US$15 for medium-density properties, US$20 for low-density properties, US$25 for commercial properties and US$40 for industrial properties (both light and light). heavy). These fines will be added to owners’ December 2024 tariff bills, calculated based on the current interbank exchange rate.

Beyond property numbers, the HLB also addresses another important problem: the numerous buildings, both residential and non-residential, that have been occupied without obtaining the necessary certificates of occupancy (CO) from the Ministry of Lands. Housing and Community Services. This contravenes council building regulations.

The local council has issued a warning to the owners of these buildings, inviting them to go to the Empumalanga Housing and Community Services office to remedy the situation. Owners are responsible for paying outstanding fees and processing their certificates. In the event of non-compliance by November 1, 2024, penalties will be added to their tariff accounts. This action highlights HLB’s commitment to ensuring compliance with building regulations and maintaining proper records of all properties in the municipality.

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