Legal and Property Advice from the Professionals
A reader has approached our Property Poser expert with two questions relating to the management of the sectional title complex in which he lives. Firstly, he would like to know whether a non-owner may be elected to the body corporate. Secondly, he would like to determine the body corporate's authority to make decisions regarding improvements to the complex, especially those that would result … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
This week a first-time home buyer tells our Property Poser experts that, shortly after moving into the house, it rained and he discovered that the roof leaks. The reader says he climbed onto the roof and, upon inspection, found that not only was it in a very poor condition but had been repaired and patched all over. Prior to selling, the previous owner had mentioned that she had experienced … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
This week the Property Poser experts field a query from a reader who rents out her second property for a minimal monthly amount, provided that the tenant maintains it to a habitable standard. Despite the negligible rental, the reader says the tenant pays irregularly and has made changes to the property without her consent. The tenant is now claiming that the owner owes him money, based on … [Read more...]
This week our panel once again sheds light on the rights and responsibilities in the landlord-tenant relationship. A reader explains that she moved into a flat and was required to pay a deposit of R2 000 into the landlord's account. Some time later, she gave notice and subsequently vacated the flat. Upon leaving, the reader was advised by the landlord that her satellite dish was not to be … [Read more...]
This week’s question comes from a tenant who has made various improvements to a property since moving in three months earlier. Shortly after taking occupancy, he laid a concrete slab beneath the carport where there was only bare soil before. He then moved a sliding door, installed kitchen cupboards, a shower and wash basin, carpeted the bedrooms and painted the inside of the dwelling at a … [Read more...]
Vandeesweek se leser wil van ons paneel weet of ’n satellietskottel deel van ’n huis se vaste toebehore uitmaak. Hy is in die proses om ’n huis te koop en het opgelet dat die verkoper die skottel verwyder het. Die verkoopsagent het hom meegedeel dat die verkoper ’n DSTV-kontrak het en dus geregtig is om dit af te haal. Die leser wil weet of dit wettig is. Charlotte Vermaak van … [Read more...]
Our panel has received a query from a tenant who is struggling with a blocked drain in her kitchen. The reader signed a one-year lease on a flat, but, within two weeks of moving in, the sink was blocked. The matter was reported to the caretaker, who said the owner had to attend to a similar problem the previous week. She was given a plunger, but had no success and a plumber was eventually … [Read more...]
This week’s reader question comes from a lady who bought a flat for investments purposes some two years ago. When she recently inspected it, she realised that there was water damage in the bathroom. The paint on the walls was flaking and the ceiling was completely bare. A plumber concluded that the water was coming from the apartment above hers and she proceeded to inform the managing … [Read more...]
A frustrated reader would like to add a second storey to his house, but is prohibited by local authorities to do so. The reason is that the roof will then be closer than the prescribed three metres to power lines that were installed by the municipality after he had purchased the property. He says he was never approached by the municipality for permission to install the lines over his … [Read more...]
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