Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has urged South Africa’s middle-income earners looking to buy a home or property for the first time to apply for a housing Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP).
The FLISP housing subsidy is a government initiative aimed at encouraging home ownership for those earning between R3,501 and R22,000 per month.
R461 million allocated
In a statement on Sunday, Sisulu said she has directed the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) or Human Settlements Development Bank (HSDB) to “have a call centre and capacity to process all applications.”
“Our resolve to restore the dignity of our people through human settlements goes beyond us giving fully subsidised houses to the indigent,” she added.
“We are also committed to responding to the housing needs of our middle-income earners through FLISP. We call on our people to seize this opportunity and apply for financial assistance.”
The Minister said her department has allocated R461 million for the subsidy during this financial year. This is expected to benefit 7,600 qualifying beneficiaries and leverage R3.2 billion in loans from private sector financial institutions.
How to apply for FLISP subsidy in 2022
To apply for a FLISP subsidy in 2022, applicants must have been approved for a home loan by an accredited banking institution or a non-bank financial institution.
Depending on their household income, successful applicants can receive a once-off financial assistance ranging from R27,960 to R121,626 towards buying a home or property.
The subsidy either reduces the home loan amount to make the monthly repayments more affordable or augments the shortfall between the qualifying loan amount and the total product price. It is paid directly to the home loan account.
Requirements
To qualify for a FLISP subsidy, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
- Must be first-time home buyer.
- Must be a South African citizen with a valid bar-coded identity document (ID), or if a permanent resident, must have a valid bar-coded permit.
- Must be over 18 years old and competent to legally contract.
- Must have financial dependents.
- Must never have benefitted from any Government Housing Subsidy Scheme before.
Certified copies of the following supporting documents are also required:
- RSA bar-coded identity document (ID).
- Bar-coded permanent residence permit (where applicable).
- Birth certificates/RSA IDs of all financial dependants (where applicable).
- Proof of foster children guardianship (where applicable).
- Marriage certificate, civil union certificate or cohabiting affidavit, proof of partnership (if applicable).
- Divorce settlement (where applicable).
- Spouse’s death certificate (where applicable).
- Proof of monthly income.
- Home loan approval in principle/grant letter from an accredited lender.
- Agreement of sale for the residential property.
- Building contract and approved building plan (where applicable).
- The project feasibility must be financially viable per NHFC criteria.
FLISP subsidy application forms
Once a home loan application has been approved, the applicant, property developer or estate agent must complete the FLISP subsidy application forms, which are available on the websites of provincial governments. For instance, if you’re in the Western Cape, you can download it from its website.
Depending on your province, you will be required to submit your application to a provincial human settlements department or your nearest NHFC office. For inquiries, you can email to flispenquiries@nhfc.co.za or flispenquiries@nhfc.co.za. For more information, visit the NHFC website here.
1 Comment
How long must i still wait being on waiting list 20 years pls help