Social Housing Act, 2008 (Act No. 16 of 2008)

Rules

Rules on Long-Term Accreditation of Social Housing Institutions

Chapter 2

Schedule A : Accreditation Criteria

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Accreditation Criteria

 

QUALIFYING CRITERIA

REQUIREMENTS

EVIDENCE TO SUBMIT IN APPLICATION

PHASE

Con. Acc.

Full Acc.

1

Appropriate legal form

1.1A company having a share capital, whether public or private, a company limited by guarantee or a not for profit Company,

Company registration documents, the memorandum of Incorporation & Articles of Association.

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1.2A Housing Co-Operative,

Registration documents & Constitution of the Co-Operative.

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1.1A Municipal Owned Entity

Certificate of Incorporation

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2

Not for Profit

2.1Are the institution’s income and assets applied solely to advance its main object (the provision of rental or co-operative housing options for low- to medium-income households on an affordable basis, ensuring quality and maximum benefits for residents, and the management of its housing stock over the long term)?

 

2.2 Is any portion of the institution’s income or assets paid in any form to any founder, member, shareholder, director, trustee, beneficiary of or holder of any interest in the institution (except reasonable remuneration for goods or services actually delivered to, or at the direction of, the institution?

 

2.3 On its winding-up, deregistration or dissolution of the institution, are the net assets given to some other Social Housing Institution?

 

2.4If the institution is a Municipal Owned Entity or Housing Co-Operative, do they distribute any profits to stakeholders and if so, are they used to advance social housing?

The institution’s Founding Documents

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3

Good Governance

3.1The applicant’s main object must be the  provision of rental or co-operative housing options for low to medium-income households on an affordable basis.

The Institution’s Founding Documents

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3.2The applicant must be independent from other entities (other than as a subsidiary of another SHI)

CIPC registered founding Documents

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3.3There must be operational policies and procedures that adequately cover:
Internal management;
Financial management;
Property development and management;
Client services (tenant management).
1. Internal Management Policies and Procedures;
2.Financial Control Policies and Procedures;
3.Property Development and Property Management Policies and Procedures;
4.Tenant Management Policies and Procedures.

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3.4The applicant must have a policy that describes how the SHI undertakes audits of its compliance and legal requirements.
1.Legal Compliance Policy and report.
2.Valid SARS Tax Clearance Certificate and SARS Tax Exemption Certificate (if appropriate)

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3.5The applicant must have a fraud and corruption system in place that deals with reporting, investigation, referral and allegation of fraud, corruption and criminal conduct.
1.Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy

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3.6The applicant must have a conflict of interest policy and a system in place.

Conflict of Interest Policy

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3.7The applicant's policies must prohibit the discrimination against any person or persons on any grounds set out in section 9 of the Constitution, including individuals affected by HIV/AIDS and individuals with special needs

Anti-Discrimination Policy

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3.8In respect of SHIs and Municipal Owned Entities:
3.8(a)The applicant must have policies, procedures and delegation outlining how the governing body exercises control over significant decisions.
1.Board Charter

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3.8(b)The policies, procedures and delegation must clearly set out the roles, responsibilities and accountability for the Board, Chair and Chief Executive.
1.Board Charter
2.Code of Conduct of Directors that provides for:
2.1Conflict of Interest
2.2Protection of Assets
2.3Confidential Information
2.4Employment Practices
2.5Obligations relative to fair dealings with clients/suppliers
2.6A system that deals with the breach of the code of conduct.
3.Letters of appointment of directors providing for a written undertaking to comply with the Code of Conduct and a link to the Board Charter and detailed roles and responsibilities of Directors
4.Register of Conflict of Interest signed by the Directors.

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3.8(c)There must be an annual assessment of effectiveness of the governance arrangements.
1.Organisational performance management system.
2.Code of Conduct.

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3.9For Housing Co-Operatives:
3.9(a)The applicant must have a description of the business of the Co-Operative, including any restrictions on the business of the Co-Operative.
1.Constitution of the Co-Operative that includes:
1.1The appointment of a minimum and maximum number of Directors;
1.2The powers and restrictions on the Directors of the Co-Operative; and
1.3The structure for decision making and participation of members in decision making

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3.10The applicant must display appropriate experience and skills.
1.Summary CVs of Board members and key staff

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3.11In respect of SHIs and Municipal Owned Entities, the Chairperson must be independent.
1. Board Charter

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3.12The applicant must have an effective governance arrangement that delivers the aims, objectives and intended outcomes in an effective, transparent and accountable manner.
1.Complete copies of the last two Board Packs (including the minutes) that provides for and contains:
1.1The Monitoring of Company performance
1.2The Comparison of the actual performance of the organisation against what was planned in the annual business plan and the long-term business plan;
1.3The signed register of conflicts of interest, Agenda, Minutes, Detailed CEO’s report, Financial report, Committee reports and minutes, Department reports, Risk Management reports and a report on performance of the full range of services provided by the institution

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3.13The applicant must have a business strategy
1.Long-term business plan or strategy that provides:
1.1objectives supporting its main object of providing social housing;
1.2a stated purpose;
1.3links to broader policy;
1.4strategic goals linked to performance indicators and an annual business and operational plan and budget;
1.5Provision for an annual review
1.6Organisational structure aligned with the strategy

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3.14The applicant must have contracts of key staff that must provide for a written undertaking to comply with the staff Code of Conduct and should include a system that deals with its breach thereof
1.Staff Code of Conduct
2.Key Staff Contracts
3.Letters of appointment

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3.15The applicant must a system of risk management to identify and mitigate key risks
1.Risk management policy and procedures
2.Risk register
3.Risk committee

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3.16The applicant must meet the indicators and benchmarks set by the SHRA in terms of compliance reporting.
1.Compliance reporting requirements

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4.

Financial Sustainability

4.1The applicant must have effective accounting systems, financial management systems and management accounting procedures?
1.Financial control policies and procedures

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4.2The applicants most recent audited annual financial statements
1.Audited annual financial statements

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4.3The applicant must have a cost management system that manages costs effectively.
1. Latest available management accounts that include:
1.1Date of submission of management accounts
1.2Balance sheet
1.3Actuals compared to budget and other time periods
1.4Comments on variances
1.5Review of management accounts by Board sub-committee before presentation to the Board
1.6Provisions for yearly items such as audit fees and bad debt written off shown on a regular basis or only at year end
1.7Projected cash flows and actual cash flows
1.8Detection of deviations at an early stage

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4.4The applicant must have a budget for the next financial year that meets the set threshold of the financial performance KPIs set by SHRA
1.Annual Budget

 

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4.5The applicant must have a long-term financial forecast that meets the set threshold of the financial performance KPIs set by SHRA and is linked to a development plan, and shows projected  cash flows.

Long-Term financial forecast.

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4.6The applicant must have a comprehensive and accurate financial business plan.
1.Long-term Business Plan and Financial Strategy that includes:
1.1A comprehensive and accurate financial business plan;
1.2A fully costed and modelled development plan;
1.3Adequate provision for maintenance and refurbishment of buildings;
1.4A demonstration of viability by generating adequate resources from activities and the prudent accessing of external funds to meet the financial obligations of carrying on its affairs.

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4.7 The applicant must have auditors engaged to review adherence with the financial control policy and other key policies, regulations and legal requirements on at least an annual basis
1.Most recent Management Letter from the auditors and Internal Audit report

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4.8The applicant must have a reporting system in place that includes regular reporting to lenders and other stakeholders on the overall financial status of the institution
1.Compliance monitoring and reporting requirements

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4.9The applicant must generate the minimum surplus or yield as determined by the SHRA
1.Compliance monitoring and reporting requirements

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4.10 The applicant must safeguard the public investment in the housing stock it owns and manages through a detailed long-term maintenance plan and annual budget.
1.Long-term maintenance plan and budget for the next year

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5.

Effective Tenant/Membership Management

5.1The applicant must have sufficient management arrangements and resources, and staffing resources to deliver excellent tenant/membership management service
1.Organisational structure – current and planned and job descriptions of key staff

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5.2The applicant must have a Tenant/Membership Management Plan in place
1.Tenant/Membership management Plan that has an effective system of control to manage tenant’s complaints.

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5.3The applicant must have tenant management policies in place.
1.Tenant management policies and procedures that include:
1.1Tenant take on,
1.2Letting Management
1.3a dispute/conflict resolution system that creates understanding of internal and external avenues for appeal;
1.4an exit and termination system that makes provision for managing coordinated boycotts of rental;
1.5The marketing of units;
1.6a fair, open and transparent application process;
1.7The screening of prospective clients in order to establish eligibility and affordability; and
1.8a tenant/end-user training programme;
1.9a tenant/membership consultation and empowerment programme;
1.10support arrangements and a referral system to deal with identified support;
1.11a community engagement and neighbourhood involvement plan;
1.12a periodic tenant/membership satisfaction survey
1.13information and communication that is appropriate to the tenants/customer about the standards of housing services and how to access these housing services
1.14ensures a communication strategy is in place that includes the provision of information regarding applications criteria and tenant management services for potential applicants and tenants and how tenants can communicate with the SHI;
1.15a complaints management system that creates awareness and understanding of internal and external complaints mechanisms;
1.16training to tenants/members to sustain tenancies and to build capacity to be more effectively involved
1.17Tenant Training Material

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6.

Efficient Property Management

6.1The applicant must have a housing portfolio plan that takes into account maintenance, acquisition, disposal, managing property life cycle, efficient use of housing stock.
1.The Housing Portfolio Plan should include:
1.1A long term maintenance plan linked to an annual budget that makes provision for periodic large scale works to buildings, reactive maintenance and unit turnover maintenance; and
1.2The comprehensive inspection of housing stock , done at least every three years.

 

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6.2The applicant must have policies and procedures in place for property management
1. Property management policies and procedures that include:
Maintenance management;
Rental management; and
Vacancy management.

 

And Stipulate:

a control system to ensure that maintenance complaints and vacancies are turned over in the prescribed timeframes and at a good quality as prescribed;
that a comprehensive inspection of housing stock will be done at least every three years;
that a complaints management system be in place that must indicate number, type, costs, quality and turnover time;
that a tenant/membership satisfaction survey must be conducted and that the tenants must indicate their satisfaction with the condition and maintenance of the property;
that the SHI must indicate what action it will undertake to improve the maintenance services;
that a rent setting policy that calculates rentals in a way which is consistent with the terms of grant funding for the development of properties, and complies with directives of SHRA in this regard;
that a rent increase system that ensures that tenants are advised of increases in rents in the manner set out in their leases;
that a vigorous rent collection system is in place and deals effectively with rental arrears;
that there must be a systematic attempt to improve the efficiency, economy and effectiveness of its service delivery on an on-going basis.

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6.3The applicant must have a control system in place to ensure that maintenance complaints and vacancies are turned over in the prescribed timeframes and at a good quality as prescribed in the maintenance and vacancy policies.
1. Property management report

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6.4The applicant must have management arrangements and staffing resources that are sufficient to deliver excellent property management service.
1.Organisational structure - current and planned

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6.5The applicant must meet the thresholds of the property management KPIs as set by the SHRA.
1.Quarterly Compliance monitoring reporting requirements

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7.

Property Development

7.1The applicant must have a policy that stipulates how planning and costs of development are to be established
1. Property development policies and procedures that includes:
1.1Working with the spheres of government and other stakeholders;
1.2Development of new homes that meet the economic and social needs of the communities and which are sustainable environments where people want to live;
1.3plans to produce accommodation of a particular quality;
1.4tenants’/membership homes meet the standard set out in the social housing programme guidelines;
1.5maintaining the homes to at least the standard set out in the social housing programme guidelines after this date;
1.6standards of design and quality that applied when the home was built, and were required as a condition of publicly funded financial assistance;
1.7plans to maintain the homes it built to at least the standard set out in the social housing programme guidelines;
1.8using its housing assets for financial leverage.

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7.2The applicant must demonstrate that it is able to effectively initiate and develop a sustainable and viable project.
1. Property development plan that is linked to a 20 year maintenance plan and annual budget;
2.Dummy Quick Scan A, B & C

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