Backyard tenants group braves ‘harsh conditions’ to secure home
The Walvis Bay Backyard Tenants Group has taken a significant step forward in addressing the housing crisis by paying N$1.5 million to the Walvis Bay municipality. The payment, made on 1 August, is for the purchase of Portion 19 of Farm 37 at the harbour town.
Group representative Immanuel Festus said the achievement is a step in the right direction.
“We deposited N$1.5 million instead of the N$237 000 which was initially required by the council as a 10% deposit. We want to prove to the council that, yes, we the people can. We can meet local and national government halfway in the fight against the housing backlog.”
The agreement between the tenants and the council includes several conditions, of which one states: “The property is sold as it is with no warranty, and the buyer is responsible for the cost and construction of necessary services, including earthworks and bulk services”.
Festus said their focus is on owning a home, even if it means going up against challenging sale terms. “We would rather struggle with the harsh conditions of the sale agreement, knowing that we will own a place to call home."
A community saving group for housing purposes, the Walvis Bay Backyard Tenants Group has over 2 000 members.
One of them, Indileni Hailundu, last month said she has been fighting for land allocation after living in Walvis Bay for six years.
She added that the high rental costs in the town have driven her to apply for land at Farm 37. “If we are allocated [a portion of the land], the council will relieve us from spending so much money on monthly rent, and we will be able to save money for other needs as well," she said at the time.
Group representative Immanuel Festus said the achievement is a step in the right direction.
“We deposited N$1.5 million instead of the N$237 000 which was initially required by the council as a 10% deposit. We want to prove to the council that, yes, we the people can. We can meet local and national government halfway in the fight against the housing backlog.”
The agreement between the tenants and the council includes several conditions, of which one states: “The property is sold as it is with no warranty, and the buyer is responsible for the cost and construction of necessary services, including earthworks and bulk services”.
Festus said their focus is on owning a home, even if it means going up against challenging sale terms. “We would rather struggle with the harsh conditions of the sale agreement, knowing that we will own a place to call home."
A community saving group for housing purposes, the Walvis Bay Backyard Tenants Group has over 2 000 members.
One of them, Indileni Hailundu, last month said she has been fighting for land allocation after living in Walvis Bay for six years.
She added that the high rental costs in the town have driven her to apply for land at Farm 37. “If we are allocated [a portion of the land], the council will relieve us from spending so much money on monthly rent, and we will be able to save money for other needs as well," she said at the time.
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