Insurance Crisis Threatens Affordable Housing in Johannesburg’s Inner City
Insurance Crisis Hits Joburg Housing
Johannesburg’s affordable housing sector faces a growing crisis as property owners struggle to secure insurance due to urban decay, crime, and failing infrastructure.
The Johannesburg Crisis Alliance (JCA) has raised serious concerns about the rising difficulty of securing insurance for affordable housing in the city’s Inner City. Property owners and managers are struggling with soaring premiums and outright coverage denials, threatening the sustainability of much-needed housing.
This crisis stems from worsening urban decay, crime, and failing municipal infrastructure—problems exacerbated by governance failures. Despite significant private sector investment in improving these properties, insurers increasingly see them as too risky. Without action, vulnerable residents may face an even greater housing shortage.
JCA supports the Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association’s (JPOMA) call for urgent government intervention. Solutions must include:
Engaging with insurers to reassess risk factors and secure fair coverage.
Investing in urban renewal and crime reduction to improve conditions.
Exploring a government-backed insurance scheme to protect affordable housing providers.
With Johannesburg already facing a housing crisis, insurance inaccessibility only worsens the situation. JCA urges policymakers, city officials, and the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group to address this matter.
The JCA remains committed to advocating for solutions that protect both property owners and residents in the Inner City.
Join the movement for a better Joburg.
