“A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on” (Samuel Goldwyn) Perhaps you are a...
Why an Oral Estate Agency Mandate Isn’t Worth the Paper It’s Written On
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In the Land of the Will, Clarity is King
“The golden rule for the interpretation of testaments is to ascertain the wishes of the testator...
Building in Security Estates: The ‘Persuasive Sting’ of Penalty Levies
"... had the respondent imposed more moderate penalties, it would likely not have had the desired effect, or put differently, the same persuasive sting for individuals of substantial means.” (Extract from judgment below) Buying “plot and plan” in a residential complex...
Your Will Can’t Wait: The Tragic Case of a Mother Who Took Too Long
“We are such stuff / As dreams are made on, and our little life / Is rounded with a sleep.” (Shakespeare) We aren’t comfortable thinking about our mortality, but death comes to all of us and it is our loved ones who will suffer if we don’t make plans to look after...
12 Questions to Ask Before You Sign That Deed of Sale
12 Questions to Ask Before You Sign That Deed of Sale “Knowledge is power” (old proverb) Whether you are buying or selling property, remember that it is too late to ask questions after you sign the Deed of Sale (often called a “Sale Agreement” or “Offer to...
Buying and Selling Property: Who Pays What Costs?
“Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing” (Warren Buffett) Don’t risk not knowing what you’re doing when you either sell or buy property. Avoid nasty shocks by budgeting properly for the costs you will incur – some of them can be substantial, and some are less...
The “Great Resignation” is Upon Us – Know the Law!
“Signs of the “Great Resignation” are rippling across South Africa” (Business Insider report, 22 April 2022)
The global pandemic-induced “Great Resignation” trend is upon us, and both employers and employees need to be aware of how our law views the whole question of employee resignation.
3 Steps to Buying Your First House
“Happiness is… buying your first home” (Anon) Few things in life can compare to the joy of finally crossing the threshold of your first home. If you are like most of us, you have been dreaming of this day for years and years – it has finally arrived! The financial...
How the Property Practitioners Act Affects You as a Property Seller, Buyer, Landlord or Tenant from 1 February
“… a property is an asset to enhance economic activity, growth and development…” (extract from preamble to the Property Practitioners Act) The Property Practitioners Act (“PPA”) finally comes into effect on 1 February 2022. It has major ramifications for everyone...
Selling Your Home: How to be Lucky this Holiday Season
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” (Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger, Roman philosopher) History has not recorded whether Seneca himself was “lucky” in the property market of his time (Rome’s land registration records from two millennia ago...
Community Scheme Disputes and the Ombud’s Powers to Resolve Them
“[The Ombud} has been given wide inquisitorial powers whereby such disputes can be resolved as informally and cheaply as possible by means of qualified conciliators and adjudicators, without the need for legal representation, save in certain limited circumstances.”...