Owning property without a will

If you die without a will, an administrator will have to be appointed to administer your estate which will be distributed according to the laws of intestate succession. As such, your assets may not be distributed as you would have wished. It also means that the process will be delayed and that there will be additional expense and frustration which …

How does the Budget Speech affect you, your property transactions and your estate?

On 21 February 2018, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba delivered his 2018 Budget Speech.Hereby a summary of the most significant proposals for the 2018/2019 Budget as tabled by the Minister of Finance: 2018/2019 Tax Proposals:  VAT: A one percentage point (1%) increase in VAT from 14% to 15%. No adjustments to the top four income tax brackets. Below inflation adjustments to …

Why is my property transfer taking so long?

After signing a deed of sale, the purchasers often want to move into the property as soon as possible.  When they are informed of the process involved prior to the property being transferred this may damper their excitement. There may also be delays in the transaction.   In order to avoid unnecessary frustration, it is vital that parties to the transaction …

Title deeds when buying or selling property

If you’re planning to buy a new property, you’ll need to get the title deed transferred into your name to prove that you’re the owner of the property. You’ll need the assistance of a lawyer specialising in property transfers (also known as a conveyancer) to help you transfer the title deed into your name. You’ll only become the owner of …

Cancelling a lease agreement early

If you want to end your contract early, this can only be done “in situations where the Consumer Protection Act or Rental Housing Act apply” – or if there’s a clause in the contract that allows for early cancellation, or if both parties agree to it. If, on the other hand, one of the parties wants to cancel because the …

Important steps for the transfer of property

The transfer process can take up to three-months, sometimes longer. There are different steps involved in the transfer of a property, these include: Instruction. A conveyancer receives the instruction to transfer the property. Communication. The conveyancer communicates with the various role-players involved in the transfer process, such as the seller, purchaser, transfer and bond attorneys, municipality, bank, South African Revenue …