Lenasia's housing crisis negotiations stuck on three points The Lenasia housing crisis, in which about 120 illegally built and partially constructed houses were demolished, has deadlocked, despite indications from the Gauteng Housing Department that an agreement had been reached. In October and November last year there were violent protests in the area when … [Read more...]

KZN Cornubia housing project 'will soon face water shortages' Before a single family has moved in, the eThekwini Municipality's flagship property development, Cornubia, is facing water shortages because inadequate infrastructure north of Durban means water demand will soon exceed supply. This emerged in an exco meeting yesterday when eThekwini water and … [Read more...]

Coast under great pressure from development - report We are "paving" our shores and nearly 20 percent of the coastline is under some form of development, a report has revealed. The development, within 100m of the shoreline, means that natural buffers against storms and rising seas have been paved over in some areas, putting people and property at risk, … [Read more...]

Cape Town stadium hopes to sell naming rights and lure rugby union Two major financial institutions are vying to buy the naming rights for Cape Town Stadium for between R20 and R40 million a year. It would meet most of the high annual costs of running the stadium, expected to hit R47.8m this financial year, against R12.2m income so far. Since 2009 the … [Read more...]

Tshwane properties to get rate cuts and tariff hikes Tshwane residents should brace themselves for an increase in water, electricity, sanitation and waste collection tariffs in this financial year - but a significant property rates cut is also on the cards for residential households. This is according to the city's budget presented yesterday by executive … [Read more...]

Controversial Blaauwberg property auctioned after fierce bidding The semi-completed landmark Blaauwberg Hotel Development achieved a bid of R50.1 million on Thursday. The Blaauwberg hotel development. The ClareMart Auction Group acted under the instruction of Sanek Trust Recovery Services, liquidators of Midnight Storm Investments 386 LTD. Midnight … [Read more...]

Cape Town's bus service to Cape Flats becoming reality Cape Flats residents were yesterday one step closer to fast, safe, efficient transport into the city centre. The N2 Express Service will provide safe, fast and efficient transport between the Cape Flats and the city centre. The new N2 Express Service will be an express bus service between Khayelitsha … [Read more...]

Joburg mayor details record R40bn budget The City of Joburg has grown at an average rate of 4.2 percent between 1996 and 2011 - higher than the average of the national and provincial economies, which are 3.3 and 3.7 percent respectively. This growth in the city has significantly and positively affected the national economy as Gauteng makes up 34 percent … [Read more...]

What is a landlord's responsibility towards property maintenance? When it comes to rental issues, tenants mostly complain about lack of property maintenance while landlords complain of late payments. Sunell Afrika, rental manager at IHPC, says it is important to know what constitutes "fair wear and tear" and what the tenant's responsibilities … [Read more...]

Public speaks on Cape Town stadium's future From seeing it demolished to make way for housing to selling it to interested bidders, the public has weighed in on what should be done with the Cape Town Stadium. The city is reviewing public submissions after the first round of public participation drew to a close at the end of March. The six most popular … [Read more...]

"Tradional checks on estate agents no longer valid" - Bill Rawson The number of estate agents in South Africa has dropped from over 90,000 to just above 30,000 in three years. This, says Bill Rawson, could just possibly result in this relatively small group being very much in control and could lead to their being unwilling to give the service that clients … [Read more...]

Gautrain station spurs Rosebank property developments Rosebank is emerging as an important area of Joburg, with private businesses having invested R6.8 billion since 2010, when the Gautrain station was built. An aerial view of the construction around the Park Hyatt hotel and The Firs in Rosebank.. Developers alone have contributed R4.1 million in bulk … [Read more...]

Preventing fires in sectional title properties The Sectional Titles Act, 1986, includes under the functions of bodies corporate an obligation to insure the building or buildings in a scheme and to keep them insured to the replacement value against fire and such other risks as may be prescribed. The fact that the Act specifically mentions the risk of fire is … [Read more...]

'Landlords hold all trumps in SA' Can a tenant withhold rental after receiving a notice cancelling the lease? Take the case of a tenant or lessee who paid her rental on time and in full and did not violate any condition of the lease. Her landlord failed to carry out the repairs needed to the dwelling. The tenant eventually informed the landlord that she … [Read more...]

Cape Town wins interim interdict against R10bn Winelands toll roads project Documents held by the national roads agency - which are to be handed to the city council - could indicate how much motorists are to pay in toll fees should the N1 and N2 toll roads project go ahead. The City of Cape Town yesterday effectively won its case in the Western Cape High … [Read more...]