By Flata Kavinga
The Municipality of Redcliff says it is continuing with the sale of substandard houses in Torwood to sitting tenants as part of efforts to regularise housing ownership in the area.
Speaking to journalists soon after a full council meeting Municipality of Redcliff Acting Town Clerk Nyararai Gomba said the houses were first being offered to current occupants, who are being given time to pay for the properties.
“The houses are in Torwood. They are substandard houses which are being sold to the sitting tenants,” said Gomba.
He said where tenants fail to take up the offer, council may transfer the opportunity to other interested buyers with the financial capacity to purchase the houses.
“If someone fails to buy, normally the offer is passed on to someone else with the capacity to buy,” he said.
Gomba added that council was providing flexible payment arrangements to accommodate tenants who may not be able to pay immediately.
“They will be given considerable time to be making payments, but it is unfortunate that not all of them can take up the houses,” he said.
The move comes as local authorities across the country continue exploring housing regularisation and home ownership programmes aimed at improving living conditions and increasing revenue collection.
