Compliance counts: what every seller needs to know

So you've decided to sell your home! Whether you're investing in a different property or making new plans, it's sure to be an exciting time. It's important to remember that before the Deeds Office can process your property transfer, there are various steps you'll need to follow and expenses that you'll need to budget for. A crucial step is acquiring the various compliance certificates that form part of every property sale in South Africa.

Collectively, these certificates serve as proof to the person buying your home that their investment is in good shape. Jawitz Properties provides the lowdown on all compliance certificates and how to get them.

Electrical certificate of compliance

This certificate assures your buyer that all electrical installations and wiring have been done correctly and conform to regulatory standards, so that there will be no nasty surprises. An electrical certificate of compliance must be issued by a registered electrician. It is not transferable if it's older than two years, meaning that for property transfer purposes, your electrical certificate of compliance needs to be under two years old.

If there is any illegal wiring or non-compliant light fittings in your home, they will likely have to be removed before the electrician will sign your electrical certificate of compliance. Depending on the size of your home, the electrical inspection process is likely to take between 45 minutes and two hours.

If you have built-in gas appliances, such as a stove or geyser, you will also need a gas certificate of compliance. Similarly, if you have an electric fence, this requires a separate certificate of compliance.

Water certificate of compliance

A City of Cape Town bylaw that came into effect in March 2011 necessitates that properties sold within the Mother City's jurisdiction require a water certificate of compliance. The purpose of these certificates is to ensure that no clean water is going to waste - and in light of Cape Town's history of severe drought, the requirement is more than reasonable. All water installations are required to meet municipal bylaws as well as South African National Standards (SANS) regulations.

The water and plumbing installation compliance checklist covers various elements, such as the correct installation of pressure release valves, vacuum breakers and geysers. The plumber is also required to make sure that there are no cross connections between the potable water supply and any grey water/groundwater system that your property may have.

The inspection is required to be carried out by a registered plumber, who will likely also carry out any work that's required before the certificate can be issued.

Beetle certificate of compliance

This certificate of compliance has nothing to do with the cute beetles in your garden and everything to do with possible infestations of wood-destroying organisms in your home. When examining your home, the inspector will not be looking for critters like cockroaches, ants or flies.

Rather, they will be looking for destructive insects like brown house borers, common furniture beetles, West Indian dry wood termites and an array of others. If any infestation is found, the company doing the inspection will provide recommendations for treatment. Once the property is clear, the certificate will be issued, and is valid for three months.

While the beetle certificate is not a legal requirement, the person buying your home has likely requested that you obtain one as a condition in the property sale agreement.

When you're selling a property, there's a lot to remember, whether or not you're doing it for the first time. The Jawitz Properties team is here to help in every step of the journey, from listing your property to handing the keys over once transfer formalities have been completed. Contact us if you need help selling your property.