Posted on 6/26/2025 8:32 AM By Cor van Deventer
Transfer duty is a tax levied by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on the acquisition of fixed property when the seller is not a VAT vendor. Transfer duty must be paid before the property can be registered in the buyer’s name, and proof of payment is submitted to the Deeds Office during the transfer process.
Posted on 6/19/2025 8:51 AM By Cor van Deventer
Section 67 of the Property Practitioners Act is not a guideline. It is a hard legal line. It states that no mandate may be accepted by a property practitioner unless the seller or landlord has first provided a completed and signed disclosure form. Despite this, many in the property industry continue to treat disclosure as an administrative afterthought — or worse, a courtesy that can be skipped if inconvenient.
Posted on 6/18/2025 8:17 AM By Cor van Deventer
Spoliation is one of those legal concepts that often surfaces during disputes over possession — especially in property, residential, and commercial contexts. It deals with a very specific scenario: when someone takes the law into their own hands and unlawfully deprives another of possession of property, without going through the proper legal channels.
Posted on 6/17/2025 2:05 PM By Cor van Deventer
The Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) requires that FFCs be renewed every three years by 31 October. Missing this deadline can lead to compliance issues and disrupt your operations. At VDM Attorneys, we understand how time-consuming and frustrating it can be to navigate the renewal process, from paperwork to long queues at the PPRA.
Posted on 6/16/2025 12:48 PM By Cor van Deventer
The obligation for developers to hand over specific documents at the first general meeting is set out in the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act (STSMA) and the Prescribed Management Rules (PMRs). These rules are not optional; they exist to ensure continuity, transparency, and accountability from the outset of the scheme’s life.
Posted on 6/13/2025 1:52 PM By Cor van Deventer
In sectional title schemes, trustees play a crucial role in overseeing the day-to-day management of the scheme on behalf of the body corporate. But what happens when those trustees fail to act in the scheme’s best interests — or worse, cause harm through mismanagement or misconduct?
Posted on 6/12/2025 1:24 PM By Cor van Deventer
Johlene Wasserman, the driving force behind VDM Attorneys' community scheme and compliance division, worked for both the CSOS and the PPRA and understands schemes and their legal complexities. She has positioned herself at the forefront of community scheme and property practitioner compliance, protecting the interests of homeowners, tenants, and trustees alike.
Posted on 6/11/2025 4:18 PM By Cor van Deventer
According to the city, persistent non-payment by property owners has significantly affected its ability to operate efficiently. In response, it has introduced a stricter enforcement mechanism, aimed at recovering debts before a transfer of ownership is finalised.
Posted on 5/27/2025 7:23 AM By Cor van Deventer
Some stakeholders have argued that, due to the rise in crime in certain neighbourhoods, automated systems enhance security in gated areas. They believe the existing policy does not adequately reflect this benefit. As a result, the proposed amendments now include provisions that would allow the installation of automated security systems, provided certain requirements are fulfilled.
Posted on 5/19/2025 4:33 PM By Cor van Deventer
The building at 101 Rissik Street, which has housed the Johannesburg Deeds Office for years, has been in a state of disrepair for some time. The situation escalated in April 2024 when a sewage leak flooded the basement, prompting widespread outcry and renewed pressure from the legal profession for decisive action.