“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 have unfortunately not survived the ravages of time and Imperial collapse) but these wise words are …
Selling Your Home: How to be Lucky This Holiday Season Read More
“[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.” (Extract from first judgment below) If you have a dispute with anyone in a “Community Scheme” – …
COMMUNITY SCHEME DISPUTES AND THE OMBUD’S POWERS TO RESOLVE THEM Read More
“A great deal is at stake in the transfer of fixed property. It is generally the largest single asset that a person owns and the transaction for the purchase or sale of a fixed property is probably the most important contract undertaken by individuals” (Law Society of South Africa) For many of us, our home …
PROPERTY SELLERS: WHY, HOW AND WHEN TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN CONVEYANCER Read More
We find ourselves in the midst of a deadly pandemic, yet incredibly stats suggest that up to 80% of South Africans have no “Last Will and Testament” in place. We discuss firstly how and why leaving your loved ones a will as part of a full estate plan will protect them, in their hour of …
ESTATE PLANNING AND WILLS: A CHECKLIST TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY Read More
Employee looting and/or violence can take place during strike action, or it can occur during non-workplace incidents such as the recent looting and public disorder sprees. In both cases employers need to take action, but with care. Addressing firstly the “strike” scenario, employees have strongly entrenched rights when it comes to taking industrial action. But …
Employee Looting and Strike Violence: When is Dismissal Fair? Read More
“There is never a wrong time to buy the right home” (Anon) You find the house of your dreams, agree on the price, and get ready to put pen to paper. The house is in the name of a company, and you are offered a choice – either buy the house out of the company …
Buying Property from a Company – Should You Buy the Shares or the House? Read More
Note: This is a complex topic and there is no substitute for tailored professional advice. What is set out below is of necessity no more than a simplified summary of some practical highlights. You and your business are at substantial risk if you aren’t fully compliant with POPIA (the Protection of Personal Information Act) on …
11 POPIA Questions to Ask Yourself Before 30 June 2021 Read More
“Nature has the ability to spring a surprise when least expected” (extract from the judgement below) A recent High Court decision dealing with the tragic drowning of a toddler highlights once again the legal dangers faced by property owners who let out accommodation to the public. This particular case related specifically to a Holiday Let …
Landlord Liable for a Tragic “Freak” Flood Drowning Read More
“I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house” (seven-times-divorced actress Zsa Zsa Gabor) Historically 44% of South African marriages have ended in divorce, and there has reportedly been a 20% surge in new divorce applications since lockdown. For those unfortunate couples, whose marriages do eventually fall apart, often …
“Owning a home is a keystone of wealth… both financial affluence and emotional security” (Personal Finance Expert Suze Orman) When you buy or sell your “Home Sweet Home”, particularly for the first time, the process can seem complicated, the terminology confusing, and the risks of making a costly mistake intimidating. You are after all dealing …
Buying and Selling Property: Nine Important Questions Read More
