Consumer services
Consumer help: building and housing
National Home Builders Registration Council
A statutory body. By law, all home builders have to be registered with the council, and have to comply with its building quality standards. Check the website to check if your builder is registered, or whether he has been suspended or deregistered. There is also a warranty scheme in place, which covers "major structural defects" caused by poor workmanship. Noncompliance and deviation from plans and specifications is also covered. The council has offices in all provinces. You can lodge a complaint via the council's website.- Website:www.nhbrc.org
- Tollfree number: 0860 200 824
Master Builders Association
Offers a range of services to the public, either free or for a reduced fee. If you feel a builder has provided you with unsatisfactory workmanship, the association offers advice, inspections and mediation. The website carries impartial contractual documents, as well as contact details for provincial and regional partners, some of which carry member directories.- Website: www.mbsa.org.za
Electrical Contractors Association of SA
An employer organisation, the association represents around 3 000 electrical contractors, manufacturers and distributors of electrical components and equipment. It provides training, advice and support.- Website: www.ecasa.co.za
Institute for Timber Construction
Ensure that your roof trusses are correctly designed and safely manufactured and erected by ITC-certified members. The institute also offers an inspection service.- Website: www.itc-sa.org
South African Bureau of Standards
Oversees clay bricks, cement and other building materials as well as the national building regulations. Click on "Building and construction" on the SABS website for more information.- Website: www.sabs.co.za
Would you like to use this article in your publication or on your website? See: Using SAinfo material
Consumer help A – Z
South Africans – getting shoddy service? Bought a faulty product? Want to complain about a company, government department, dentist, bank, estate agent? Unsure of your rights as a consumer? Help is at hand:
- Consumer organisations
- Advertising and the media
- Banking, loans, credit, debt
- Building, housing, contractors
- Competition
- Direct marketing, junk mail
- Electricity
- Estate agents, property transactions
- Insurance and pensions
- Lawyers, legal aid
- Medical aid and health
- Motor vehicles
- Other – see below
- Post, parcels, mail
- Tax
- Telephones and mobile
- Travel and tourism
Other products and services
Got a problem with a product or service not listed above? Auctions, electrical appliances, franchises, furniture, timeshare? And more – see: Other products and services 