This week the Property Poser experts tackle a few common leasing questions from various readers. The first question relates to the payment of interest in a case where the lease agreement specifically made provision for no interest to accrue on the deposit held by the landlord. According to Susan Chapman from Rawson Properties Port Elizabeth Platinum, the Rental Housing Act provides that the deposit must be invested in an interest-bearing account with a financial institution. "The … [Read more...] about A number of leasing questions answered
Columns
Unfair of landlord to cut off electricity
The Property Poser panel has received a query from a reader who arranged a late payment of her monthly rental with the agent concerned but then found that her prepaid electricity card had been blocked. Unable to purchase electricity, she has approached the experts for advice. According to Stiaan Jonker of Smith Tabata Attorneys in Port Elizabeth, the Rental Housing Act declares it an unfair practice for a landlord to unlawfully shut off the utilities to a rental property. "The … [Read more...] about Unfair of landlord to cut off electricity
Property unfit for habitation
The Property Poser experts have been approached by a reader who has been renting a property that seems unfit for habitation. The tenant has lived there for six months and encountered a number of problems, including a complete lack of built-in cupboards. He also reports that the front door and internal doors cannot close properly. A broken lounge window that was supposed to be replaced was never fixed and the reader has suffered two burglaries as a result. He adds that the toilet leaks and … [Read more...] about Property unfit for habitation
12 Successful Health Enhancing Changes for 2013
Why not do things differently this year? A habit takes a good 30 days to change, so trying to achieve more than one small change at a time can be a mighty difficult thing. How about setting yourself 12 new health-enhancing habits for 2013 – one for each month? What exactly should those new habits be? Well, a lot will be dependent on your long term goals (i.e. losing 10kg, improving your health, reducing your stress load etc.). Consider these goals and work backwards from there, giving thought … [Read more...] about 12 Successful Health Enhancing Changes for 2013
Sex Between Minors Decriminalised
Recently the Pretoria High Court decriminalised sex between minors. The law will not be amended until it is confirmed by the Constitutional Court and there is no guarantee that the Department of Justice will appeal this horrendous judgement. Judge Rabies's unsound ruling has far reaching implications for SA society and certainly for parental authority. This ruling will be interpreted as a green light for sex between minors especially in our sex flooded society. Legalised sex between … [Read more...] about Sex Between Minors Decriminalised
Navigating a Storm over Water
The Property Poser experts are often inundated with queries about stormwater run-off from neighbouring properties and this week's scenario comes from a reader who lives in a sectional title complex. The reader explains that the area in which he lives was flooded some time ago, while he was abroad. At the time, his neighbour outside the complex knocked down the wall separating the two properties, which also happened to be the boundary wall of the complex. This was done to drain water from … [Read more...] about Navigating a Storm over Water
The Elusive Certificate of Occupancy
A reader has approached the Property Poser panel about an occupation certificate, which stands between him and the dream home he has built. The reader writes that the residence is nearing completion after four years. He tells us that the project was not financed via a mortgage bond and that he built only as and when he had cash reserves to do so. The builder has now advised the reader that he needs a certificate of occupancy from the local municipality before the house can be formally … [Read more...] about The Elusive Certificate of Occupancy
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Review
It usually takes many years for a movie to ferment and age (even if it’s a classic) before it’s remade. The Amazing Spider-man follows only 5 years on the heels of Spider-man 3, the third in the trilogy that starred Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. It has been dubbed a “reboot” and makes use of some of the same production team, but a fresh cast, screenwriter and director set it apart from the previous series. These changes make a big difference to a franchise which looks better, tells the story … [Read more...] about The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Review
Trustee could be held liable
This week the Property Poser panel assists the owner of a unit in a sectional title complex who questions the validity of a decision to install water meters by his body corporate. The reader writes that he attended the annual general meeting (AGM), which was apparently held at an inconvenient time for most of the owners. He does not specify whether there was any lack of quorum as a result. One of the issues discussed was the installation of water meters. The reader explains that it was … [Read more...] about Trustee could be held liable
Huur gaat voor koop
The Property Poser panel has been approached by a reader who recently purchased a property that includes a garden flat with an existing tenant. The reader says the previous owner entered into a year-long lease agreement about three months ago and the lessee would like to stay on despite the change of ownership. However, the letting agent now claims that the new owner is responsible for his commission and the only way for her to be absolved of this is for the tenant to move out. The … [Read more...] about Huur gaat voor koop
Interdict halts property transfer
The Property Poser panel helps a reader this week whose elderly parents have had to sell their house due to financial difficulty but have now been served with an interdict halting the transfer process. The reader explains that when their issues started they fell in arrears with the bond payments. Plans were made to pay a portion of the outstanding repayments and the balance was restructured as part of the outstanding bond, which increased the monthly instalment. To avoid landing in this … [Read more...] about Interdict halts property transfer
Call of Duty Black Ops 2 (2012) – Game Review Part 1
If you’re a gamer and haven’t noticed the release of Call of Duty Black Ops 2, then I welcome you back from the island you were marooned on. The hit sequel hit the shelves on the 13th of November and hit half a billion dollar sales in the first 24 hours. Yes, $500,000,000.00, five hundred million dollars! There’s a reason why BO2 is the biggest entertainment launch for 2012, and there were more than 16,000 midnight launches of the title in shops around the world. This smiling reviewer got to … [Read more...] about Call of Duty Black Ops 2 (2012) – Game Review Part 1
Total Recall (2012) Review
I am unashamedly a massive fan of a decent Sci-Fi flick, especially one that uses the awesomeness of High Def and brings amazing visuals for my eyeballs to feast on! As far as that goes, Total Recall, the remake of the 1990 film (starring Arnold “I pull glowing ping pong balls out of my nose” Schwarzenegger) is a superb success! I was grinning from ear to ear watching the visuals of a film that looks like it was dropped in a cauldron of “Cool” overnight, pulled out and left to ooze and drip the … [Read more...] about Total Recall (2012) Review
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) Review
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is a romantic drama that stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley. Yes, you read right, Steve Carell in a drama. You wouldn’t normally expect one of the funniest men in America to be in a serious film, but he pulls it off superbly. There are some funny moments in the movie, but if you go into it expecting a comedy you will be disappointed. As far as romantic dramas go, Seeking a Friend is great. The film centers around Dodge (played by Carell) who is … [Read more...] about Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) Review
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) Review
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is the big budget blockbuster sequel of the 2008 Action Adventure, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and is just as much fun to watch through as the first one. The story has a slight continuation on the first, but you could quite easily watch Journey 2 without the need to go back and see what happened previously. We follow Sean (who was a character in the first movie – played by Josh Hutcherson from The Hunger Games) and his step-father (played by Dwayne … [Read more...] about Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012) Review
