COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES

Compliance Certificates what you need to know

Handyman Cape Town | The Home Doctors refer to the Cape City Council’s certification as the “BIG Five”. If you are having any major alterations done to your home, in order to sell your home, we suggest that you have a certificate of compliance done at the same time.



We offer a Cape Town Gov Certification compliance service for all 5 compliance certificates that are required:

 
There are 5 Compliance Certificates that are required when selling a property in order for the property transfer to be registered.

Here is a brief summary of what each certificate covers:
 
1.ELECTRICAL Compliance Certificates:
Certifies that the electrical installation on the
property complies with the required safety
standards.

Governed by the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
The certificate must not have been issued more
than 2 years prior to the transfer date, provided
there have been no modifications to the installation
since being issued.

Parties cannot contract out of this or agree to waive
the requirement; however, they may agree that the
responsibilities in respect of the installation be
transferred from the seller to the purchaser (where
the purchaser is undertaking a big renovation after
transfer).

Regulations state property owner may not allow the
transfer of ownership without the certificate. Parties
may however agree in the Agreement of Sale that it
is the purchaser’s responsibility to obtain it, provided it is done before transfer.
 
2.ELECTRIC FENCE Compliance Certificates:
Certifies that the electric fence installation complies
with the required safety standards.

Governed by the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
No set period of validity, but an existing certificate may
be transferred by the seller to the purchaser. A seller
need only provide a new certificate to the purchaser if
a change was made to the installation after the current
certificate was issued.
Parties can agree between each other who shall
obtain this certificate.

The requirement also applies to sales of sectional title
units if there is an electrical fence system situate on
common property.
 
3.WATER/PLUMBING Compliance Certificates:
Certifies that the water installation at the property is in line
with municipal and building guidelines.

Governed by the City of Cape Town water by-law. Only
applicable to transfers within the municipal jurisdiction of
the City of Cape Town.

No set period of validity. A new certificate must be obtained
every time there is a change of ownership.

Parties cannot contract out of this or agree to waive.
The Seller is required to submit the certificate to the City of
Cape Town prior to transfer.
 
4.GAS Compliance Certificates:
Certifies that the gas installation on the property
complies with the required safety standards.
Governed by the Occupational Health & Safety Act.

No set period of validity. A new certificate must be
obtained every time there is a change of ownership.

Parties cannot contract out of this or agree to waive.
Seller is required to obtain the certificate prior to
transfer.

Best for the inspection and remedial work to
be carried out asap after the deal is concluded due
to bank and bond requirements and obviously prior
to purchaser moving in; however, the parties can
agree it is the purchaser’s responsibility to obtain.
 
5.BEETLE Compliance Certificates:
Certifies that the accessible wood of permanent
structures on the property are free from certain
wood-destroying beetles.

Not governed by any law, but a practice that has
evolved over the years.

Parties agree contractually on the validity period of
the certificate once issued.

Parties can contract out of this; however, if parties
agree that no certificate is necessary and bank
requires it for purchaser’s bond, then that is for the
purchaser’s expense.

Seller is required to obtain the certificate prior to
transfer. Best for the inspection and remedial work to
be carried out asap after the deal is concluded due
to bank and bond requirements and obviously prior
to purchaser moving in, however, the parties can
agree it is the purchaser’s responsibility to obtain.


 

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