A buyer usually knows far less about a property than its seller so it’s important for them to be familiar with common defects and contract clauses.
“Caveat emptor” (let the buyer beware) is a well-known phrase from contract law that often applies in property transactions. Buyers find themselves in a position where they know less about a property than the seller and the onus has been on them to inform themselves of the true state of the property they are about to purchase.
While the Consumer Protection Act has gone some way towards protecting buyers, and the new proposed Property Practitioners Bill goes further, buyers still have to beware.
Here are some tips to help buyers. Sellers would do well to cover the same ground before they list their property as it could save them a great deal of money and even the sale of their property down the line. Currently to avoid liability for damages, the seller and their agent are required to inform the buyer of all defects or potential defects, even if the property is being sold voetstoots (in current condition). The new Bill will make it mandatory for sellers to attach a disclosure form to the agreement of sale (or lease). Some real estate professionals such as Just Property already do this. “When a property is listed with us, sellers are asked to complete a Seller's Declaration (an annexure to our mandate), which lists any and all defects the seller is aware of,” says Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property.
Buyers should always insist on a copy of such a document before signing an OTP, advises Stevens.
The seller is required to provide an electrical compliance certificate, electrical fence certificate, entomologist’s certificate and, if relevant, a gas compliance certificate. In Cape Town, a certificate of plumbing compliance is also required. Certain banks (such as FNB) require a compliance certificate for properties with asbestos. Stevens notes that “transfer of the property cannot proceed without these and will be delayed until such certificates are issued”.
A reputable agent will advise sellers of these requirements and put them in touch with suitably a qualified entomologist, plumber, electrician etc. But even the most scrupulously honest seller and their agent may not be suitably qualified to pick up all defects. As a result, consumer watch dogs are encouraging buyers to ensure all certificates supplied by sellers are legitimate, and to undertake extensive inspections of homes they plan to buy. The proposed bill also looks to recommend and regulate home inspections by qualified inspectors.
To ensure your compliance certificates are legitimate, include the following in your offer to purchase:
In addition to "wood-destroying insects” insert the words “and organisms" when referring to the entomologist clearance certificate,
Add the word “verified” to the section on electrical certificates
Add the proviso that the property passes a home inspection before to transfer and that if any defects are found that these be repaired to your satisfaction before to transfer),
Add the condition that “the home passes a due diligence investigation”.
What do these mean?
Including "organisms" in the requirements for entomologist’s certificate expands that report to include an investigation for fungi that can infest and destroy timber, as well as borer etc.
The verified electrical certification clause means that the local provincial electrical inspection authority will be asked to re-check the entire installation. If any faults are found, the authority will require the electrician who issued the certificate of compliance to sort out the faults at the contractor's expense. Any costs to remedy the installation would be for the seller who is responsible for providing the certificate.
The home inspection is payable by the purchaser, who should also choose which professional home inspection company to use. According to House Check John Graham, such an inspection would look for defects such as:
Poor drainage - does storm water flow away from the house properly, does the roof needs new gutters and downpipes, is there a danger of water ponding seeping under the foundations.
Faulty electrical, plumbing and gas installations. Wiring, DB boards, hot water geysers, plumbing pipes, gas lines and sanitary ware are all checked.
Leaking roof, whether from poor flashing, blocked gutters or aging roof coverings.
Defective or non-existent insulation.
Poor maintenance, eg DIY plumbing and electrical fixes.
Structural damage due to settling or weak moving foundation that means roof structures, doorways, walls and support beams become unstable.
Water seepage through windows and doors. Re-caulking windows and doors, adding weather-stripping or other more extensive repairs may be necessary.
Rotten window and door frames, timber floors and roofing timbers could be an indication of borer beetles, termites and wood-destroying fungi.
Poor ventilation can lead to structural damage and health hazards.
Hazardous materials such as lead-based paint, asbestos materials and unhealthy levels of potentially toxic moulds.
Home buyers informed of home defects in these inspections will then decide on how to proceed with the home buying process – they may request that repairs be completed or that the major repair costs be covered by the seller.
A due diligence investigation would include title deed conditions, servitudes and confirmation that the structures on the property have been approved by the local authority. “Good practice is to add a clause in your Offer To Purchase, under Special Conditions, that states a copy of approved municipal plans must be provided by the seller prior to registration of the property,” advises Stevens.
As much as this is good advice for buyers, Stevens emphasizes that it is just as important that sellers do the same homework, even before listing their property. It can save a great deal of heartache, stress and expense down the road.
Putting matters right can be expensive. There are cases of sellers having to pay out 10s of 1000s of rands to rectify electrical faults and plumbing improvements to reach compliance. This goes to show how important it is to keep up with the maintenance needs of your home.
“People fear what they don’t understand, which makes the buying of property a pretty scary ordeal for most first time or novice buyers,” says Carla Visagie also of Just Property. “It doesn’t have to be. Just Property has recently developed a new online tool labelled ‘Your Property Journey’ to help demystify the buying process and offer buyers insights into how to better prepare themselves for homeownership. It’s available to the public and accessible via the Just Property website from 1 October. We’ve also included a new online pre-qualification tool (powered by My Bond Fitness that will give buyers instant results regarding their buying power, all free of charge!”
Visagie says that Just Property is “always striving towards new and innovative ways to add value to our clients’ experience. Property takes one on an interesting journey and we’d like our clients to know we’ll be there with professional help and sound advice every step of the way.”