Users of OfLocal have voted Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay the best estate agency in Port Elizabeth for 2016. OfLocal brings together the best South Africa has to offer, and has compiled a list of the top 10 real estate agencies in Port Elizabeth, with Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay taking the top spot for 2016. “Our team is dedicated to personal service, and knows how emotional it can be to sell a home, and the stresses of buying one,” says Charlotte Vermaak, principal of Chas Everitt … [Read more...] about Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay voted best agency in Port Elizabeth
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Do your homework before renting to students
With attractive yields and reliable tenancies, the appeal is obvious. Student tenancies are often arranged early, well before the start of the academic year and while chasing rent from a group of young people with no income can be off-putting, invariably, collection is easily arranged and students come with guarantors in the shape of their better-off, more-reliable parents. "Landlords of good student houses have a guaranteed market that remains predictable whatever is happening in the economy … [Read more...] about Do your homework before renting to students
How do money laundering regulations affect me?
Whether you are looking to buy, sell, let or rent a property, you will find that your estate agent will ask you for proof of identity and proof of residential address. So, if you have been asked for these, there’s no need for concern - the South African Reserve Bank have put certain controls in place through the introduction of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, No. 38 of 2001, better known as FICA to effectively fight money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. In terms of … [Read more...] about How do money laundering regulations affect me?
Buying off plan: How to reduce the risk of purchasing a property you haven’t even seen
Developments are popping up all over Port Elizabeth, but buying a new home off-plan is still something that many people shy away from because they can’t actually view what they are buying or worry that it is a complicated process. However, the truth is that buying off-plan is really simple and can be a very intelligent investment, says Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay director Charlotte Vermaak. “The advantages include the fact that if you pick a development in a popular location, the value of … [Read more...] about Buying off plan: How to reduce the risk of purchasing a property you haven’t even seen
How to Keep Pedestrians off Private Property
This week the Property Poser experts address a reader's concern about preventing pedestrians from crossing her vacant seafront plot. The reader explains that she bought the land a decade ago and initially intended to build on it but has since decided to sell. The problem she faces is that the local residents, mostly fishermen, use a pathway across her land to access the beach, even though there is a public road a short distance away. The reader has checked the title deed and no … [Read more...] about How to Keep Pedestrians off Private Property
Neighbour oversteps the boundary
Whenever people live in close proximity to one another, it seems that possibilities for conflict abound. This week the Property Poser panel considers the contentious issue of neighbours overstepping their boundaries. A reader writes that her neighbour planted a hedge on her own side of a shared boundary wall but that, over time, the hedge grew and covered the whole wall, including the reader's portion. She says she did not have a problem with this because the original wall was quite low … [Read more...] about Neighbour oversteps the boundary
Tenant faces unreasonable utilities demands
This week the Property Poser panel addresses a problem from a reader who is renting a cottage on another person's property. She explains that she pays her rental in advance and her utilities in arrears and settles them jointly around the 27th, even though her lease stipulates that they are only due at the end of the month. Recently, her landlady obtained an up-to-date municipal account and insisted that the amount was payable by the 7th even though, in the normal course of events, the … [Read more...] about Tenant faces unreasonable utilities demands
Consumer Protection Act on Latent and Patent Property Defects
The Property Poser panel often receives queries relating to the discovery of defects during the course of a property sale or shortly thereafter. This week a buyer tells us that the transfer of his property is still in progress but substantial leaks in the roof have been discovered. When the reader reported it, the estate agent obtained quotations for the repairs and a claim was instituted with the relevant insurer. It has subsequently transpired that the insurer will not cover the claim … [Read more...] about Consumer Protection Act on Latent and Patent Property Defects
Complicated Family Living Arrangements
Verbal agreements between family members often create problematic situations with regard to living arrangements. A reader writes that, a few years ago, her son and his wife suggested that their double garage be converted into a flatlet for her and her partner. Part of this arrangement included that a new double garage be constructed on the property. The financing for these alterations was provided by the reader who raised a bond on another erf she owns. She also agreed to pay the monthly … [Read more...] about Complicated Family Living Arrangements
Trustees can be held personally liable for their actions
This week the Property Poser panel deals with a sticky situation relating to the trustees' responsibilities when it comes to repairs and maintenance in a sectional title complex. In this instance, the driveways of the complex had to be resurfaced with tar and a special levy was raised to cover the cost. The reader reports that the first section was very poorly done and it was not long before the tar started lifting and sticking to car tyres. In the end, only a small number of the driveways … [Read more...] about Trustees can be held personally liable for their actions
Property Partnership Pitfalls
Co-ownership of property, or partnerships, is a cause of concern for many Property Poser readers. The situation before our panel this week involves two partners, one of whom lives on the property. The latter is also the one who makes the bond repayments. Our reader is however concerned that the resident partner is "abusing the bond", which places him as co-owner at risk. The resident partner is not willing to sell and neither party is in a position to buy the other out. It seems that … [Read more...] about Property Partnership Pitfalls
Suretyship makes CC members liable
This week the Property Poser panel deals with an issue where the defaulting tenant of a rental property is not a natural person but a close corporation (CC). The reader asks how a landlord can hold a tenant liable for a breach of contract when the tenant is a CC with only one member. In this instance, the contract has been cancelled and the tenant evicted. Unfortunately, no sureties were provided in terms of the rental agreement. As a result, the reader would like to know whether the … [Read more...] about Suretyship makes CC members liable
Early cancellation leads to lease disagreement
This week's scenario presented to our Property Poser panel relates to the early cancellation of a lease by a landlady. The tenant recently received a call from the person in question, who requested that she vacate the property as soon as possible to accommodate her daughter who was unexpectedly returning from overseas. During the conversation the landlady, who realised that she was terminating the lease before the end of the term, offered to waive the last month's rental. The reader was … [Read more...] about Early cancellation leads to lease disagreement
Splitting the marital bond
Regular readers of our column may be aware that the impact of a marital regime on property ownership is often a burning question. This is even more so, it appears, when creditors are laying claim to outstanding debts from either one or both of the joint owners. One such reader writes that he and his wife are married out of community of property, with the exclusion of the accrual system. They are however the joint owners of the home in which they live. Unfortunately, being pensioners, … [Read more...] about Splitting the marital bond
Buyers must know complex rules
This week our reader's letter deals with the management and conduct rules in a sectional title complex. He understands that, while these rules are absolutely necessary, prospective buyers do not always know what they are getting themselves into when buying in a complex. As a trustee of the body corporate in charge of the complex where he resides, he has devised a way to ensure that all parties concerned in the sale process are fully aware of the complex-related rules and facts. In his … [Read more...] about Buyers must know complex rules
