Just under 62% of people in Nelson Mandela Bay own their home or are paying off a bond. And Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay is on a mission to get more people to own a piece of the city they love. Launching its newest marketing campaign Own A Piece Of The City You Love, Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay has invested in outdoor advertising, social media and public relations to bring its vision to life. “Our office markets affordable homes for first-time buyers as well as larger homes for those … [Read more...] about Own a piece of the city you love
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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?
Love thy city
Port Elizabeth, the friendly city, a place where we call home and one we love and can be proud of. “Many tourists come through to our city, and come year after year, and we’re lucky enough to call Port Elizabeth home,” remarks Charlotte Vermaak, Principal of Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay. “We allow people to make their house a home, and we want people to take pride and ownership of their city.” And it’s easy to get involved, here are Charlotte’s favourite sources: Project Nelson … [Read more...] about Love thy city
Swartkops River: conservation and protection makes for a good property buy
With the Zwartkops Conservancy and government working on an initiative to have the Swartkops River Valley recognised as a wetland of international importance, there’s no better time to invest on the banks of this river. If approved under the Ramsar Convention, the initiative will ensure the protection of a key environmental asset that could play a huge part in the sustainable use of the river, and in boosting the Bay’s tourism prospects. “This is a long-term plan, and if it succeeds in … [Read more...] about Swartkops River: conservation and protection makes for a good property buy
Understanding how to buy vacant land
The idea of purchasing a piece of land and building a home is a dream for many people. But what is involved in purchasing vacant land? The four big banks here in South Africa (ABSA, Standard Bank, FNB and Nedbank) will only consider financing residential vacant land if the land is 120sqm or larger and within a proclaimed suburb. And when they approve finance, the maximum loan will be for 60% of the value, so a 40% deposit is required, and the loan term is only 60 months. So with this in … [Read more...] about Understanding how to buy vacant land
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
Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay to offer letting service in Despatch and Uitenhage
Property investors and tenants alike will benefit from a new letting offering by Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay which will service Despatch and Uitenhage. Complementing its existing Port Elizabeth service handled by James Nicol, the Despatch and Uitenhage agent will be Sonja Swanepoel. “There are a number of unqualified and unlicensed rental agents operating in the area, and we want to prevent landlords and tenants being misled,” comments Charlotte Vermaak, principal of Chas Everitt Nelson … [Read more...] about Chas Everitt Nelson Mandela Bay to offer letting service in Despatch and Uitenhage
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
Tenant Maintaining Problem Property
This week, the Property Poser panel assists a reader who has maintenance issues with the residential property she has been renting for about a year. When the tenant took occupation of the property no inspection was done in her presence, but she duly completed a checklist and sent it to the estate agent dealing with the rental. The reader noted several issues with the property, including rising damp in one of the bedrooms, problems with the electrical wiring, broken toilet seats, a leaking … [Read more...] about Tenant Maintaining Problem Property
Written lease better than one’s word
This week, the Property Poser experts grapple with an interesting question from a tenant regarding the merits of a verbal lease contract over one in which the terms are reduced to writing. According to Rian du Toit from DTS Attorneys in Port Elizabeth, South African law recognises both written and oral agreements. "In order for an agreement to be concluded, all parties should be clear with regard to its terms." In the instance of a lease, issues such as the rental payable and preferably … [Read more...] about Written lease better than one’s word
New Landlord, New Lease, Angry Tenant
A reader has approached the Property Poser experts with a few problems, including the manner in which her landlord has dealt with her deposit. The tenant writes that she has been renting a residential property for the past two years. In terms of her original lease agreement, she had to pay a deposit of R3 700 along with a key deposit of R200 and would not receive interest upon refund of the deposit. At some stage the original landlord merged into another company, which simultaneously … [Read more...] about New Landlord, New Lease, Angry Tenant
Complex management issues
This week a reader asks the Property Poser experts whether a managing agent is allowed to lead the body corporate of a sectional title complex and give advice. In addition, as a trustee of the complex in which he resides, he is concerned about a situation in which one or two of his fellow trustees are trying to take control. According to Charlotte Vermaak from Chas Everitt in Port Elizabeth, a management agent is an individual or firm appointed by a body corporate or homeowners' … [Read more...] about Complex management issues
Moisture puts damper on tenant’s lease
This week, the Property Poser experts help a tenant who is experiencing massive problems with dampness in the property he rents. The reader tells us that the foundations of the house have subsided to such an extent that cracks have appeared in various places. Of even greater concern is the fact that the shower floor in the bathroom has also subsided, causing water to seep into his adjoining spare room. The reader says this issue was pointed out to both the agent and owner at the … [Read more...] about Moisture puts damper on tenant’s lease
When 50-50 isn’t joint ownership
This week our Property Poser experts are again faced with an emotive issue involving siblings who jointly inherited a fixed property and cannot seem to agree on the day-to-day running of it. A reader writes that she not only inherited half the property but also lived there for a number of years - first with her mother, who owned the other half, and later, after her mother's passing, with her daughter. Unbeknown to her, her mother left her own half-share to the reader's two siblings and … [Read more...] about When 50-50 isn’t joint ownership
Home Owners Association making unilateral decisions
This week the Property Poser panel helps a reader whose Home Owners' Association (HOA) makes unilateral decisions affecting residents without achieving a quorum at meetings. Although the required number of members are never present, the reader says the HOA continues to make changes to the rules of her complex. This includes the building design and style of new homes being erected and, she says, there are even plans afoot to amend the constitution. An HOA is usually found in so-called … [Read more...] about Home Owners Association making unilateral decisions
