NHE still battling backlog of 300 000 houses
Only 21 545 homes built since 1993
One of the main challenges facing NHE is the scarcity and high cost of developed building plots, its CEO said.
The state-owned National Housing Enterprise (NHE) has only built 21 545 houses since its inception in 1993, and is currently dealing with a backlog of 300 000 houses.Over 120 000 applicants have been on the company’s waiting list since 2005, CEO Gisbertus Mukulu said on Tuesday.
The waiting list in the Khomas Region stands at 33 000, while 35 000 Erongo residents are waiting for homes. In the northern regions, there are 22 000 applicants on the list, while 15 000 people from the southern and northeastern regions are desperate for a place to call home.
Mukulu said 40% to 45% of Namibians cannot afford houses, which is why the company has taken targeted measures - including building houses without features such as tiles - to cater to the lowest earners.
He noted that the design of houses without amenities includes bachelor apartments that cost N$70 000 to N$80 000, one-bedroom houses that cost N$100 000, two-bedroom houses that cost N$120 000 and three-bedroom houses that cost almost N$200 000.
“These are the type of homes that most Namibians can afford and the reason we have left out some of the fittings is simply because we want to make the homes more affordable. Residents are then able to expand the house once their financial situation improves, rather than building a house that is expensive and unaffordable,” he explained.
He further pointed out that the main challenges facing NHE are the scarcity and high cost of developed building plots, the creditworthiness of clients and the increased cost of construction materials, as well as limited financing.