If you are one of the many employees retrenched or put on short pay or unpaid leave as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown, you will be wondering how to cover the monthly instalments on your mortgage bond and other credit agreements. You have no doubt heard of the “payment holidays” banks are
Unemployed, Can’t Pay Bond and Credit Instalments? “Credit Life Insurance” May Save You Read More »
The COVID-19 crisis has changed everything. Our personal lives have been upended and our businesses hit hard. And with many businesses operating out of leased premises, a great many landlords and tenants are asking themselves what happens if the crisis leaves a tenant unable to pay the agreed rental. What follows is of necessity a
Leases, Contracts and COVID-19: What is Force Majeure? Read More »
Many factors can delay your property transfer, and all of them are likely to cost you. A last-minute rush to comply with statutory requirements is one such pitfall to avoid. Beware therefore of the possibility that you will soon need (in some parts of the country you may already need), to lodge before transfer a
The primary remedy therefore is an order for removal of the structure (extract from the judgment below) What can you do if your neighbour has started (or finished) building without the necessary municipal approvals? In a nutshell, our courts will very probably assist you with a demolition order, as a recent High Court decision around
Your Neighbour Builds Without Plans – Can You Get a Demolition Order? Read More »
“It is unquestionable that an owner of land is not permitted to perform activities which contravene the restrictive title conditions or the zoning restrictions” (extract from judgment below) You decide to open a home business, or perhaps you are about to buy a house in order to run a business from it. You apply for
Running a Business in a Residential Area – Check Your Zoning First! Read More »
“To support the property market, the threshold for transfer duties is adjusted” (Finance Minister Tito Mboweni) Transfer Duty Exemption Up Some good news for property sellers and buyers in particular is the increase in the transfer duty exemption to R1m. See the table below for details and note that with all the brackets being adjusted
Budget 2020: Good News for Property Sellers and Buyers, and Some Useful Tax Calculators Read More »
Close your eyes –Landlord knockingOn the back door(Jack Kerouac; Northport Haiku) Your residential fixed-term lease expires but for whatever reason you dont sign a new one. Nor does the lease say anything about what will happen on expiry. Is there still any form of valid lease in place and if so what terms and conditions
Does an Expired Lease Automatically Continue Month-to-Month? At What Rental? Read More »
Few of us ever test our powers of deduction, except when filling out an income tax form (Laurence J. Peter of The Peter Principle) Letting out property can give you an excellent “annuity” income, and if that concept appeals to you and a buy-to-let property comes your way at the right price put an offer
If you want to make your house easy to sell, make it easy to buy (Anon) You are overjoyed at receiving a good offer for your property – not easily achieved in these hard times and of course you certainly don’t want to do anything to jeopardise the sale. But perhaps do that little bit
Property Sales and Trusts: Demand Proof of Trustee Authority Read More »
“He who hesitates is lost” (Wise old proverb) In January 2019 new amendments to Regulations for the replacement of lost title deeds (and similar documents like mortgage bonds and notarial bonds – see below) were published. They were very onerous and slated to come into effect at short notice, but after criticism they were suspended
Property Owners, Buyers and Agents: Lost Title Deeds and Bonds – Dont Delay! Read More »
