Bad news for Joburg households - no more free water from 1 July
With effect from 1 July 2017, which is the beginning of the City of Johannesburg’s (COJ) upcoming financial year, its new tariffs for all services (and taxes) will come into play. The approved water tariffs provide that residential households will no longer receive 6 free kilolitres in the ordinary course.
Indigent households can apply for free water, however, they must first submit their applications and have these applications approved before the free water allowance will be allocated to the invoice.
Trustees in sectional title schemes that are occupied/owned by indigent persons, and in schemes that have bulk municipal accounts for water, should make application on behalf of the scheme as a whole for the registration of every unit as indigent in order to receive the free allocation.
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Western Cape the 'retirement Mecca' of South Africa
It’s no secret that the Western Cape’s residential property market is outperforming every other province in the country, and recent data suggests that it’s predominantly due to migration from other provinces according to Bruce Swain, CEO of Leapfrog Property Group, who says a new report by Lightstone Property analysts indicates that there has been a significant increase in senior citizens investing in property in the Western Cape.
“In 2005 when Lightstone started tracking the numbers, 22% of residential properties that transacted in the province were purchased by buyers over the age of 65, and this has increased to 35% in 2016,” says Swain.
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Selling? Your complete guide to compliance certificates
Putting a home up for sale takes some preparation on the seller’s part according to Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, who says that sellers need to have all of their compliance certificates in order before taking the step of listing their home on the market.
Goslett provides some guidance as to which certificates sellers will need to obtain to ensure a smooth, hassle-free property transfer process:
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Commercial landlords: Seven tips to keep you tenants happy
In the past a tenant would only contact his landlord when reporting a problem, while the landlord’s main contact with the tenant occurred if the rent had not been paid or there was an upcoming increase in costs.
“It is of paramount importance that a healthy and amicable relationship between a landlord and tenant be nurtured in order to encourage easy communication between them at all times,” says Leon Breytenbach, National Manager of the Rawson Property Group’s commercial division.
“When communicating with tenants it is essential that the landlord be courteous, respectful and professional at all times. This will reduce the likelihood of frustration or animosity arising when negotiations for a lease renewal are due or the parties need to discuss a problem or a need.”
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Choose a neighbourhood that meets your lifestyle needs
These days it is all about lifestyle and convenience, and where your home is located is now as important as the house itself when it comes to buying. If you are going to have a happy home, agents from Seeff say you need to choose a neighbourhood that meets your lifestyle needs.
Seeff’s agents give some advice on what to look out for:
1. Travel convenience
At the top of the list is convenience, according to Steve van Wyk, managing director of Seeff Centurion.
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