New law offers no protection against dodgy estate agents
South Africa - Sowetan Live
It’s mandatory for all estate agents to register for their PrivySeal, a digital seal which authenticates registered estate agents in real time.
If you get defrauded by an unregistered estate agent, you can claim your losses from the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB). But not for long. Once the Property Practitioners Bill is enacted – which is likely to be before May – you will have to take the knock according to Joseph Sakoneka, the registration manager at the EAAB.
As the law stands, unregistered estate agents are not entitled to commission, but this hasn’t stopped chancers from operating in the sector – presumably because consumers don’t check the credentials of estate agents.
Sowetan Live
Budget 2019 delivered a mixed bag for the housing market, say property experts
South Africa - Fin24
While transfer duty and capital gains tax have remained unchanged, the introduction of a pilot subsidy programme for first-time buyers is encouraging, says Herschel Jawitz, CEO of Jawitz Properties.
"While consumers will continue to face financial pressures as a result of the lack of tax relief, there should be no impact on an already subdued residential market," said Jawitz.
Fin24
Cape Town General Valuation Roll for 2019 (GV2018)
South Africa - City of Cape Town
The current GVR is known as GV2018 and was certified by the City’s Municipal Valuer on 31 January 2019. It contains the municipal valuations of about 875 000 registered properties in Cape Town that were valued on the date of valuation, on 2 July 2018.
The results of GV2018, including the new municipal rates payable by property owners, will be implemented on 1 July 2019. Key dates for viewing and objections are as follows: 21 February - 29 March 2019 (in-person) and 21 February – 30 April 2019 (online).
City of Cape Town
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