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Building Code Enforcement Socks Owner of Low-Cost Home

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Building Code Enforcement Socks Owner of Low-Cost Home Geodesic Dome Was One of the Structural Advances of the Twentieth Century BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT SOCKS OWNER OF LOW-COST HOME Innovative Dweller-built House Is Torn Down by Order of Code Official By Carol W. LaGrasseMarch 2008 Anyone who still labors under the misconception that building codes help people of modest income to live in safe, affordable homes that they actually own should look at these photographs telling the story of the geodesic dome house that David Greathouse built near Craig, Colorado. A geodesic dome has inherent strength and structural stability. It is also inexpensive to construct, because it uses a minimum of materials. The structural members, which form a triangular latticework, are light, but comprise a whole that has the combined advantages of the inherent strengths of both the triangle and the dome. The famed innovator Buckminster Fuller introduced a wide range of uses of the geodesic dome during the tw

Haryana ups brick rates, crashes govt’s low-cost housing plans

Haryana ups brick rates, crashes govt’s low-cost housing plans New Delhi: Meeting on Monday to also discuss PIL by farmers opposing land acquisition for project The good news: the Delhi Government is ready to allot the first 9,000-odd homes under the Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojana, a project aimed at offering at least 4 lakh low-cost homes to the economically deprived populace of the Capital. The bad news: the project might have hit a roadblock. The reason: escalating cost of bricks, and litigation over land to be acquired by the government for the scheme. Post-Assembly elections, with the election code of conduct now lifted, Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta on Monday would meet top officials from all departments involved to take stock of the progress. Among these are the legal department, the land and building department, and the Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC), in charge of the construction. Senior government officials said the cost of homes — they are priced at Rs

ME developers plan low-cost housing projects in Pakistan

ME developers plan low-cost housing projects in Pakistan He said that the low cost housing projects would be a blessing as Pakistan was facing a backlog of over eight million houses for the lower income and middle income groups. Senior Vice President of FPCCI Sub committee on Housing and Construction, Munir Sultan commented that investments could be higher if the government realized the worth of Pakistan’s real estate industry and concentrated on it. He said that the construction sector employed the highest number of labourers and also contributed significantly to the GDP of the country and yet the government was neglecting it.He asserted that the government should stop facilitating developers launching projects for the elite who were not, “in need of shelters on their heads, as much as the poor people of our society.” Sultan commented that it was a positive sign for foreign investors to come to the country despite sensitive political and economical situation in Pakistan and if these l

News - Environment: 'R34bn needed to house shack dwellers'

News - Environment: 'R34bn needed to house shack dwellers' Taxpayers will have to fork out between R23-billion and R34-billion over the next 14 years to provide housing to the 190 000 families living in shacks.Durban's ambitious plans to eradicate the slums and the more than 200 informal settlements that dot eThekwini, by 2015, will cost national, provincial and municipal government R3,1-billion a year. Council contractors would then have to almost double the 16 000 homes that will have been built this financial year to meet the target.But the city's progressive housing and service provision programme has now become a double-edged sword, attracting thousands of aspirant home seekers into the city each year, housing head, Coglin Pather said. In presenting Durban's housing delivery plan at city hall on Tuesday, Pather said millions would also have to be found to provide emergency housing as incidents of shack fires skyrocket each year."We are building between 16

Start building houses, Govt urges developers

Start building houses, Govt urges developers IPOH: Housing developers should launch their projects now that the fuel prices and the cost of building materials have dropped, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said. Over the past six months, he said, many projects did not take off as developers chose to stall them because of the rising cost of building materials. He pointed out an average of 100,000 homes were built each year, but as of October, only half of that amount had been delivered so far. “We always need the sale of houses to generate economic activity. Every house has 140 components, so if the developers stop building, then this also affects the factories producing the building materials. “The professional bodies would have no business and this creates a backlash in the industry,” he told reporters at a Perak Fire and Rescue Department Hari Raya celebration here on Wednesday night. “Launch the project because the demand for houses is always there. Of c

FT.com / World - PM urged to take control of builders

FT.com / World - PM urged to take control of builders Gordon Brown has been urged by senior Labour MPs to nationalise parts of the housebuilding industry in the wake of this week’s rescue of the big banks. Jon Cruddas, who recently declined the post of housing minister, pushed for state intervention in the housing industry, arguing there was a case for wholesale nationalisation. Backbenchers, former ministers and left-wing pressure groups have told the Financial Times that the time has come for the prime minister to seize housebuilders, a move that only a year ago would have been inconceivable. Share prices of companies such as Barratt Developments and Persimmon have plunged in the past year amid a dramatic slide in sales and prices of new homes. Taylor Wimpey traded as low as 11p this week, down from 518p in early 2007. Many influential Labour voices believe the government could benefit from taking a greater role in the industry. This could save thousands of jobs and solve the shor

Housing shortage forecast - New Zealand's source for business, stock market & currency news on Stuff.co.nz

Housing shortage forecast - New Zealand's source for business, stock market & currency news on Stuff.co.nz Fears of a critical housing shortage have been raised as home building plunges. With New Zealand's population rising while construction falls, a shortage of homes is expected by the second half of next year. There are concerns the shortage could harm the economy and trigger another bubble in the housing market. The number of consents issued by councils for new homes has dropped 42 per cent since mid-2007, reaching an eight-year low in August. However, New Zealand still has more people arriving than leaving and more births than deaths, gaining 40,000 citizens in the past year, Statistics New Zealand figures show. Bank of New Zealand chief economist Tony Alexander said a housing shortage was just a year away. "We are going to be looking at a whole new debate about a housing shortage in late 2009," he said. "Construction is dropping like a stone." He p

The Herald Online **News**

The Herald Online **News** ANC MPL Phila Nkayi launched a stinging attack on the standard of housing delivered by government saying that in terms of the required quality “we have not started to build houses and that is the reality”. Speaking during a debate on an inspection of houses in the Cacadu district municipality that found the quality of houses “leaves much to be desired”. Nkayi said when members of the housing committee asked people about their houses they responded by asking: “Could you live here?” This, he said, was an indictment. Housing MEC Thobile Mhlahlo was not present during the debate and Public Works MEC Christian Martin was unable to say where he was. Nkayi said the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) required that houses provide protection from the weather, privacy, sanitary facilities, storm-water drains and electricity, but “all the houses we visited lacked a number of these things”. He said the DA had pointed to the houses in Joe Slovo as an example of

The Herald

The Herald Let’s consider low-cost housingZIMBABWE’S urban areas need well over 500 000 new houses and flats immediately just to cope with existing populations and will no doubt need tens of thousands more each year since the population of the towns and cities continues to rise rapidly.This year, celebrations in Harare to mark World Habitat Day were a far cry from the pious speeches that tend to be given on these special days.There was, for a start, the launch of the Zimbabwe Urban Housing Database that gives detailed breakdowns of just how many houses and flats of what kind already exist, average numbers in each home in each area, and the estimated number of new houses needed urgently.And the speakers, led by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Cde Ignatius Chombo, spoke of the need for urgent action, from amending outdated legislation that makes it difficult for the average person to build to the need to mobilise funds from the private sector.There a

Abu Dhabi needs 28,000 new homes

Abu Dhabi needs 28,000 new homes The Abu Dhabi Government must intervene quickly to tackle a festering local rent crisis that could scare off investors and create socio-economic problems in the emirate, a semi-official report said yesterday.The report by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) said it was time for a total freeze on rent rises after the caps introduced by the government early this year failed to produce results.It blamed real estate investors for the surge in rents over the past two years and presented a gloomy picture on the situation in the near future. Although it expected sustained increases in rents in the next two years, the report said it would be much slower than the staggering growth in housing costs over the past few years caused mainly by supply bottlenecks and high demand.The report said demand would continue to outrun supply in the housing sector on the grounds most of the new units are mainly intended for high income people. It called for th

Uganda Business News: NHCC says Uganda has insufficient houses

Uganda Business News: NHCC says Uganda has insufficient houses The Chief Executive Officer of the National Housing and Construction Corporation (NHCC), Joseph Kitamirike has indicated that Uganda lacks 600,000 low cost housing units in urban areas to adequately meet the growing demand for accommodation. He says the growing demand is a result of the high rural urban migration. People migrate to urban areas to look for jobs and better services like electricity, water and healthcare among others.Kitamirike told journalists in Kampala today that the private sector faces challenges in setting up the units because of limited government support. He appealed to the government to reduce taxes on construction materials and improve infrastructure in the housing estates like water and electricity access to motivate people buy the houses.The NHCC chief also appealed to banks in cooperation with the government to reduce interest rates on mortgages to enable people easily acquire houses.He says the c

Newsnet - Gvt calls for low-cost housing

Newsnet - Gvt calls for low-cost housing The government has called for existing legislation and by- laws implemented by local authorities to be amended in line with the new policies meant to facilitate construction of low cost housing.The call was made by the Minister of local Governmentt, Public Works and Urban Development, Dr Ignatius Chombo at a one day symposium held in Harare to commemorate World Habitat Day.World Habitat Day is commemorated every first Monday in October, a day which was set aside by the United Nations general assembly to give member states an opportunity to reflect on their performances in the housing sector and other activities related to the general improvement of the human settlements.Addressing the gathering, Minister Chombo lamented the existence of legislation that is hindering the building of low cost housing.He added that an estimated one billion people worlds wide are living in slums and a greater percentage of them are in sub-Saharan Africa.He also note

Housing sector is engine for economic growth

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Housing sector is engine for economic growth The housing delivery infrastructure in Uganda, as in most developing regions in the world, is woefully underdeveloped. Not enough new homes are being built each year to meet current needs. As Uganda is projected to have the fastest population growth in the world over the next quarter century, radical changes are needed. Rapid urbanization, in the absence of adequate and affordable housing, is feeding the growth of large urban slums. In the case of Uganda there has been no large-scale organised real estate development in the last 30 years. Private developers have been putting up houses in single units or in small batches while the government owned developer National Housing and Construction Co. (NHCC) has built not more than 2,500 housing units in the last 30 years. A study called `Strategies for facilitating the financing of affordable housing in Uganda’ by the former executive director of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Dr William Kal

The Standard | Online Edition :: Sh4.8 billion boost for low cost housing

The Standard Online Edition :: Sh4.8 billion boost for low cost housing Published on 07/08/2008 By Lucianne Limo The Government has set aside Sh4.8 billion for the construction of affordable houses. Housing Minister Soita Shitanda said the Government had committed to funding the National Housing Corporation (NHC) to build houses. He also said Sh1.5 billion had been released to NHC this financial year to build affordable houses. Soita said there is an annual deficit of 120,000 housing units. He said 150,000 housing units were needed every year, but the Government could only construct 30,000 units. He was speaking at Lang’ata estate, Nairobi, during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Lang’ata Phase III housing project at a cost of Sh350 million. The project consists of 110 three-bedroomed houses, expected to be complete by April 30 next year. NHC chairman Bosire Ogero said the provisional selling price for Phase III would range between Sh4.5 million and Sh5 million. Last

Italy to build 20,000 low cost homes - International Herald Tribune

Italy to build 20,000 low cost homes - International Herald Tribune ROME : The government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi introduced a multibillion-euro national housing plan for Italy on Wednesday, aimed at stimulating the economy after almost a decade of low growth. About 20,000 new homes would be built for families on the cusp of poverty next year, Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti said. Italy is set to spend as much as €7 billion, or $11 billion, to build 100,000 units for low-income households with rents as low as €300 for about 50 square meters, or 538 square feet, of space. The housing plan is directed as aid to consumers whose spending drives two-thirds of a $2.2 trillion economy and are struggling to cope with inflation and rising mortgage rates. Household confidence slumped this month to the lowest since 1993 as record food, housing and energy prices erode purchasing power. Berlusconi's first act after taking office this month was to abolish a local property tax on fir

SABCnews.com - Housing backlog a time bomb

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SABCnews.com - africa/west_africa Housing summit to tackle growing slums in Africa The conference seeks to find solutions for the growing number of slums across Africa July 28, 2008, 17:30 Adel van Niekerk, AbujaDelegates to a housing conference in the Nigerian capital are deliberating on how best to eradicate the continent's growing slums. Housing ministers from across the continent and representatives of international aid organisations have converged on Abuja as part of the second African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development. With more than 70% of the continent's urban residents staying in slum areas, delegates are faced with an enormous challenge. They say the continued influx of people into Africa's cities and the pressing need to address the escalating housing needs of the poor is becoming more urgent. The body was created in 2005 and South Africa has been chairing it ever since. South African Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says the lack of proper h

Gordon Brown's scheme proposes thousands of low-cost homes - Times Online

Gordon Brown's scheme proposes thousands of low-cost homes - Times Online Thousands of low-cost homes for local people are being planned in what would be the biggest building programme in the countryside for a generation. The new homes are proposed as part of a review ordered by Gordon Brown. Under the scheme, dozens of market towns would have communities built next to them large enough to sustain their own shops, pubs and even schools. Planning rules would be also be changed to remove restrictions and allow residences for lower-income families to be built. The proposals are an attempt to boost affordable homes in rural areas and find sites for Mr Brown’s target of three million extra homes by 2020. The houses would enable teachers, farm workers or craftsmen living or working in villages, who have been unable to get on the property ladder after years of rising house prices, to own a home for the first time. But they are likely to meet opposition from some countryside campaigners an

Africa: Continent of Economic Opportunity - by David Fick (Author)

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By Mwiti Marete Kigali, Rwanda Day in the Sun for Africa's Hard-Nosed Entrepreneurs David Fick's "Africa: Continent of Economic Opportunity" reads like a "Who is Who" list of hard-nosed African entrepreneurs who have fished in life's dustbins and weathered the elements with astounding results. The 512-page volume is based on his belief that the second largest continent has immense potential that only waits to be tapped, and his confidence in her citizens' creativity, resilience and industry. "While many write off Africa as the continent of despair, other enterprising individuals and organisations have recognized the huge, untapped potential of Africa and are actively pursuing business ventures across the continent," says the book. The book features brief descriptions of these successful entrepreneurs and their ongoing enterprises in Africa. Each story captures the spirit behind these successes and highlights how they are not only creating

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: FG Challenged on Affordable House for Low, Middle Income Earners (Page 1 of 1)

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: FG Challenged on Affordable House for Low, Middle Income Earners (Page 1 of 1) The federal government has been urged to move quickly and build affordable houses for the low and middle income earners if it wants to achieve housing sufficiency by 2020. This advice is coming on the heels of the recommendations by the Presidential Technical Committee on Housing which submitted that at least 30 million units of houses need to built immediately across the federation to bridge the housing gap in the interim; and a sustained 1000 units in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and 500 units in state capitals annually. GA_googleFillSlot("AllAfrica_Story_Inset"); Mr Joe Idudu, the Chairman, Joe Idudu and Associates, chattered surveyors and the chairman, board of directors, Resort Savings and Loans Plc, made the call in Lagos while responding to questions from newsmen. "If you build a house that would cost N50 million or N100 million you are not building for the middle

The Herald Online **News**

The Herald Online **News** Owning a home almost out of reach now, say bank experts Rochelle de Kock HERALD REPORTER THE property boom which hit the market in 2001 and the constant rise in interest rates have made it almost impossible for most South Africans to own homes. This meant, Nedbank Home Loans divisional manager Pramod Mohanlal said yesterday, that one would have to earn no less than R31600 a month to afford a house. With the interest rate resting at a high of 15,5%, “the basic mortgage repayment on a R700000 home loan is R9477 A month,” Mohanlal said. Although R700000 could previously afford you a comfortable four-bedroom home with two bathrooms and a double garage, it is now “barely enough to purchase a three- bedroom townhouse in the suburbs,” said Bond Choice Port Elizabeth manager Andrea Atkinson. “The average price of a three-bedroom house in the Kabega Park and Westering areas is between R800000 and R850000,” she said. Major banks said affordability was a major downfall

Associated Press Of Pakistan - Govt to provide low-cost houses to each low-paid govt employee, says Kakar

Associated Press Of Pakistan - Govt to provide low-cost houses to each low-paid govt employee, says Kakar QUETTA, June 15 (APP) Federal minister for housing and works, Rehmatullah Kakar said on Sunday that the government would soon start work on construction of houses in Balochistan and NWFP under Prime Minister Housing Scheme (PMHS) aimed at providing the houses to each low-paid government employee at low cost after their retirements. Speaking at a meeting held here under his chairmanship to review the matters relating to implementation of the PMHS in Balochistan, the minister for housing said: “Work on execution of the housing scheme has already been started in Punjab, Sindh and the federal capital city.” He said that the government was determined to provide low-cost houses to each government employee upon their retirements in the country. In this regard the government will not earn any benefit. He said that it was a challenge for the government to construct hundreds of thousands of

Associated Press Of Pakistan - Govt. focusing on provision of low-cost housing: PM

Associated Press Of Pakistan - Govt. focusing on provision of low-cost housing: PM ISLAMABAD, Jun 26 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said the government is focusing on the provision of low-cost housing to the people to meet housing shortage in the country. He was talking to a delegation of the Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan that called on him here at the PM House this afternoon. The Prime Minister said that the government is committed to realising PPP’s vision of ‘Roti, Kapra and Makaan’ for ensuring the provision of these basic necessities of life to the people as was envisioned by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. He said the government is taking steps for solving the problems of the construction industry to ensure its seamless growth and progress. The Prime Minister formed a committee to look into the problems of the construction industry that includes Secretaries of the Ministries of Housing and Works and Finance, Chairman CBR and the Ch

Viet Nam News

Viet Nam News Workers in dire need of housing (26-06-2008) HCM CITY — Workers migrating from Viet Nam’s rural areas to work in economic zones around Ha Noi and HCM City are in urgent need of housing. The Viet Nam Confederation of Labour (VFL) reports that over one million workers are employed at 154 industrial parks (IPs) and export processing zones (EPZs) around the country. More than 70 per cent of the workers are migrants who have been forced to rent dormitories in slums near their factories. Workers spend between VND60,000 and VND 150,000 from their meagre salaries of VND800,000-900,000 a month for house rent. Housing built by State and businesses only provided accommodation for seven to 10 per cent of the country’s IP and EPZ workers. "Several apartment buildings have been built in recent years, but the rents are still very high, forcing workers to seek cheap rooms for rent," Nguyen Xuan Nga, deputy head of VFL’s Social Welfare Department, said. Nga said the construction

Associated Press Of Pakistan - Govt to provide low-cost houses to each low-paid govt employee, says Kakar

Associated Press Of Pakistan - Govt to provide low-cost houses to each low-paid govt employee, says Kakar Govt to provide low-cost houses to each low-paid govt employee, says Kakar QUETTA, June 15 (APP) Federal minister for housing and works, Rehmatullah Kakar said on Sunday that the government would soon start work on construction of houses in Balochistan and NWFP under Prime Minister Housing Scheme (PMHS) aimed at providing the houses to each low-paid government employee at low cost after their retirements. Speaking at a meeting held here under his chairmanship to review the matters relating to implementation of the PMHS in Balochistan, the minister for housing said: “Work on execution of the housing scheme has already been started in Punjab, Sindh and the federal capital city.” He said that the government was determined to provide low-cost houses to each government employee upon their retirements in the country. In this regard the government will not earn any benefit. He said that i

Home construction at low as affordability suffers | theage.com.au

Home construction at low as affordability suffers theage.com.au Home construction at low as affordability suffers HOME building starts have suffered their biggest fall in two years for the March quarter, an indication that rising interest rates and a slowing economy are continuing to take their toll on affordability and the house-building sector. Dwelling starts fell by 3.3% in the March quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics - the largest quarterly decline since the December quarter of 2005. Housing Industry Association chief economist Harley Dale said rising living costs and interest rates meant that figures for the construction of new residences would only worsen. "One of the main reminders from these figures is that the whole of 2008 is probably going to be a challenging year for new-home building," Mr Dale said. Detached housing starts dropped 5.4% while starts for residences other than houses, such as apartments, grew by 2.4%. "It's encouragi

Maghreb Arabe Presse: Morocco to build 130k low-cost housing units

Maghreb Arabe Presse: Morocco to build 130k low-cost housing units Rabat, Mar. 30 - Morocco is set to build 130,000 low-cost housing units in the coming four years both in urban and, for the first time, in rural areas across the north African country for a total budget of MAD 15.5Bn (USD 2.13Bn). The budget is totally exempted from taxes, and will be directed to families whose monthly income is less than MAD 2,500 (about 344). They should be either working in the police, civil servants, living in houses due for demolition, or employees in the private or handicraft sectors. The government aims also to diversify offer in the housing sector, fight insalubrious housing, and involve small and middle-scale real estate developers in the operation. The prices of houses and flats built in the project will not exceed MAD 140,000 (USD 19,300). Besides cities and towns, the project provides for the first time for constructing low-cost housing units in rural areas. 22,353 one-storey houses are prog

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE - Property and Environment

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE - Property and Environment Why private developers cannot build for low income groupDayo Ayeyemi, Lagos A luxury apartment in Port HarcourtHousing in its entire ramification is more than mere shelter according to different scholars who have expressed concerns over the shortage of housing industry in the country. As stated by them, housing encompasses all the necessary facilities such as circulation, infrastructure such as electricity, water and paved roads that make life enjoyable and that it must be close to workplace. Despite the enormous contribution of the private developers who have constructed different housing units across the state following the current housing policy that encourages such, investigation by Nigerian Tribune revealed that most of the houses constructed by the private developers are geared towards the high income earners in Nigeria. In a twist, Chairman, Grant Properties Limited, Reverend Olajide Awosedo, in a brief interview stated that constructi

£8bn promise for low-cost housing means it’s boom time for builders - Times Online

£8bn promise for low-cost housing means it’s boom time for builders - Times Online Yvette Cooper announced a huge £8 billion building programme yesterday to help first-time buyers and families on low incomes. An extra 210,000 affordable homes will be built over the next three years. Council building will get a big boost and the Housing Minister unveiled a range of reforms to help young families get on the property ladder, including an equity scheme for those earning less than £60,000 a year. Under the scheme the Government will give first-time buyers and key workers 17.5 per cent of the cost of a new home in return for a share in the profits when they sell. The proposals in the Green Paper include grants for local authorities that provide detailed five-year building plans. They will also be allowed to borrow money from the private sector and keep rental income. Town halls will be encouraged to build council homes for the first time in nearly 30 years, and social rented housing is expec

Gulfnews: Low-cost housing urged as solution to soaring prices

Gulfnews: Low-cost housing urged as solution to soaring prices By Cleofe Maceda, Staff ReporterPublished: March 20, 2008, 23:54 Dubai: Governments in the GCC should flood the property market with low-cost homes and impose price controls to help curb inflation, a senior bank official said on Thursday. Doha Bank Group chief executive officer R. Seeth-araman said depegging from the US dollar is not likely to happen, as GCC governments have already started to adapt fiscal or policy measures to arrest soaring prices. "Depegging is not going to happen. It's not in the cards as I see it now. Governments have resorted to low-cost housing construction. That's the solution that most governments are doing. They're also looking at the Rent Control Act. There are policy and fiscal measures taken," Seetharaman told Gulf News. He said imposing a cap on food prices and housing rents, as well as building more affordable homes, is an effective way to cut inflation. Eventually, he

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Emailing: allAfrica.com Angola President Dos Santos Confident About Sustainable Development (Page 1 of 1)