Student establishments and privately own accommodation managers  in our community,  welcome students  from all over the world.  

 However, recent changes in municipal zoning laws threaten to disrupt not only our livelihood but the broader efforts to provide affordable housing options to students in our area.

The new regulations mandate operating under previous zoning must now undergo a fresh consent or complete rezoning to allow students to reside on their premises. It’s still a grey area by MMM.  

This unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle creates both financial and operational challenges for many small business owners like myself who are committed to supporting the community by offering affordable student housing. 

 On contacting UCT law faculty they emphasised :  

“STUDENTS /PEOPLE  CAN STAY WHERE THEY WANT IN THEIR PRIVATE CAPACITY”  this is discrimination against students and a specific social group.  

What happened to Equality, freedom, human dignity, freedom of movement and residence, right of access to adequate housing for people/students?     

Currently, there is a significant shortage of affordable accommodation for students, which hampers their ability to focus on their studies and fully immerse themselves in their educational experience.  We need to be  provided a crucial solution to this problem. Our properties are perfectly suited to serve as student accommodations given their facilities and location advantages. 

Requiring a new consent or rezoning after already going through the lengthy and expensive process not only adds an additional layer of complexity but also increases costs for property owners who are already struggling to keep their businesses afloat.

Such expenses could be better utilized towards improving the facilities and enhancing the living conditions for students.

It is vital that our municipalities recognize the positive role we play in  community and reconsider the need for these costly and time-consuming zoning changes. I propose that municipalities should grandfather existing  used as student accommodations into compliance, allowing them to continue operating without the need for new consent or rezoning.

I invite you to join me in urging our local authorities to reevaluate these requirements and support small business owners in providing affordable housing options for students.

By signing this petition, you help us maintain our mission to support our community and ensure a brighter future for the next generation. Please sign the petition to stop this unnecessary rezoning and keep our community thriving.