Blogs
APPROVED BUILDING PLANS AND PROPERTY TRANSFERS
It is common knowledge that when a house or a structure is built on immovable property that the law requires the plans to be drawn up in a particular manner and approved by the relevant Local Authority with jurisdiction. Therefore…
BUILDING VS HOME CONTENTS INSURANCE - KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR INSURANCE COVERS
In recent years, many South Africans have chosen to invest in their homes, prioritising renovations, upgrades, and improvements to existing properties. This growing focus on home improvement has been reflected in…
CAN YOU AMEND YOUR ANTENUPTIAL CONTRACT IN SOUTH AFRICA
In South Africa, an antenuptial contract (“ANC”) is an important legal instrument that regulates how spouses’ assets and liabilities are managed during a marriage, and how they are divided in the event of divorce or the death of…
CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE REQUIRED WHEN SELLING PROPERTY
When selling immovable property in South Africa, the seller is generally responsible for obtaining and paying for various Certificates of Compliance (CoCs) to ensure that installations on the property are safe, compliant with…
DECEASED ESTATE PROPERTY TRANSFERS
During a person’s lifetime, he/she will accumulate assets as well as liabilities. The assets can be immovable or movable assets or cash. Assets may include a house, vehicles, furniture and cash. The liabilities can…
DUTIES OF AN EXECUTOR OF A DECEASED ESTATE
An executor is responsible for the administering of the deceased estate in terms of the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965 and the duties are set out as follows:
DUTIES OF CONVEYANCER IN PROPERTY TRANSFER
A Conveyancer is an Attorney who attends to the Deeds Office’s property registration and transfer process. They are admitted attorneys who passed a specialized conveyancing examination and are admitted…
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES IN PROPERTY AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
In an increasingly digital world, the way we conclude agreements has evolved significantly. Transactions are no longer limited by geography, and parties often find themselves in different cities…
ELECTRONIC SIGNING OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE IN SOUTH AFRICA
The short answer is that an electronically signed Offer to Purchase (OTP) for immovable property is not valid and is therefore not legally binding on the parties in South Africa…
ESTATE PLANNING PREPARING FOR LIFE’S CHANGES
Significant life events can all have a profound impact on your estate planning. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, emigration, or the death of a loved one can dramatically change how your assets should be structured…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHEN PURCHASING OR SELLING A PROPERTY
The Purchaser’s deposit can be paid either to the estate agency or the conveyancers appointed to handle the transfer. They both have trust accounts where your money will be held pending the registration of transfer…
GETTING YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER
Getting your house in order involves big things, such as having life insurance and a valid will, but they also involve a number of small things that can easily be overlooked. Now during the lockdown period, is the perfect time to…
HOLD ON TO YOUR STATUS AS A HOMEOWNER
The recessionary environment, rising interest rates, cost of petrol/diesel is putting financial pressure on homeowners, leaving many struggling to keep up with their home loan repayments and contemplating a…
HOW MANY CONVEYANCERS DOES IT TAKE TO TRANSFER A PROPERTY
Buying or selling a property for the first time is a milestone event in any person’s life. However, after the excitement wears off and the contracts are signed, it’s time to deal with the legal side which most commonly consists…
HOW TO FAST TRACK THE PURCHASE OF YOUR PROPERTY
Purchasing a property is a big decision, one in which the buyer will have invested several hours of research, planning and careful consideration. It makes sense then that a buyer would want their property transfer to…
NO FFC, NO COMMISSION
Estate agents are not entitled to earn commission on property transaction they negotiated successfully, if they were not, at the time of conclusion of the agreement, in possession of a valid Fidelity Fund…
PAYING A FEE TO SELL PROPERTIES IN A HOMEOWNERS, BODY CORPORATE OR DEVELOPMENT
In recent years, many South Africans have chosen to invest in their homes, prioritising renovations, upgrades, and improvements to existing properties. This growing focus on home improvement has been reflected in…
PROPERTY MANDATES DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPECIAL AND GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
In South Africa, an antenuptial contract (“ANC”) is an important legal instrument that regulates how spouses’ assets and liabilities are managed during a marriage, and how they are divided in the event of divorce or the death of…
REPO RATE
The South African Reserve Bank raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7.25%, effective 25 September 2026. The prime lending rate is now 10.75%. If you have a home loan, or you are about to sign an offer to purchase, here…
IS YOUR WILL UP TO DATE? 9 LIFE EVENTS THAT MEAN IT IS TIME FOR A REVIEW
Most people know they should have a will. Far fewer have looked at theirs since the day they signed it. Having a will is a good first step, but a will that no longer reflects your life can cause almost as many problems as having…