Cape Town’s problem building unit closes 425 cases
Cape Town’s Problem Building Unit is expanding and actively addressing issues associated with abandoned buildings.
With the expansion of the City of Cape Town’s Problem Building Unit and its ongoing efforts to tackle complaints about abandoned buildings, the number of cases closed each year has more than doubled.
Cape Town’s Problem Building Unit’s cases
The City’s Problem Building Unit enforces the Problem Property By-law 2020 to identify, react to complaints, and manage dilapidated and potentially problematic buildings, as outlined on the City of Cape Town’s website.
The unit has been receiving increasing numbers of complaints about abandoned buildings and buildings that are severely damaged. In the last financial year, from July 2023 to June 2024, the Law Enforcement unit closed 425 cases, as reported by capetownetc.
The number of cases closed in the previous financial year was 207, indicating a significant increase in case closures.
How does the Problem Building Unit operate?
The Unit consists of 13 staff members, and according to the by-law, they first issue a compliance notice. After that, they may set up a tariff to add to the owner’s municipal account. They threaten legal action as a last resort, to compel the owner to take action.
“These buildings can become dangerous as they are used as dump sites and are health and fire hazards.”
JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security
Furthermore, people should also bear in mind the environmental impact, the risk of illegal occupation, and the associated costs of such buildings.
How you can help in addressing the problem of abandoned buildings
JP Smith said that he encourages residents to report potential problem buildings to Law Enforcement. The sooner someone reports it, the sooner the Problem Building Unit can address the problem. They can then limit the impact on the surrounding neighbourhood.
It is important to note that the Unit may only follow procedures or take action once someone has lodged an official complaint against the owner of a potential problem building.
Residents can report a problem building to the City’s 24-hour emergency control room on 021 480 7700. Alternatively, they can submit a service request online.
When does a building qualify as a problem building?
According to the official website of the City of Cape Town, a problem building is a building that is abandoned, dilapidated, in contravention of national building regulations, overcrowded, or housing illegal squatters.
It is important to know that not all buildings with problems are problem buildings. A construction site or a house with overgrown vegetation are examples of buildings that do not qualify as problem buildings.