As an ongoing service to my clients in my service area of Kanonberg Lifestyle Estate, Welgedacht Security Estate, Protea Valley, Van Riebeeckshof, Oude Westhof and the greater Welgemoed neighbourhood, I will post important information that may influence your selling and buying experience from time to time.
A water bylaw that will increase the cost of selling a house has been approved by the Cape Town City Council and has been promulgated by the provincial government.
In addition to the obligation that faces Sellers of residential properties to provide certificates for beetle, electrical and gas compliance, Cape Town Sellers now also have to submit a plumbing certificate from an accredited plumber as proof that water installations on the property comply with national building regulations.
Transfer of properties would be subject to compliance.
The new clause would read as follows:
"The seller must, before transfer of a property, submit a certificate from an accredited plumber certifying that:
1. the water installation conforms to the National Building Regulations and the water bylaw;
2. there are no defects;
3. the water meter registers;
4. there is no discharge of storm water into the sewer system,"
Such a certificate would therefore confirm the absence of leaks, that there is no discharge of storm water into sewer systems, and that the water meter is functional and the sewer system intact.
This bylaw affect the installation of irrigation systems, wells, boreholes, well points, and water sources other than municipal water supplies such as storage tanks. It will also implicate solar heated water installations and make sure that it complies with the relevant standard set by the South African Bureau of Standards in terms of the Standards Act, 1993 (Act No. 29 of 1993).
This amended water bylaw includes many additions and clarifications of the previous bylaw promulgated in 2006.
I would dearly recommend that you should get a certificate of compliance on completion of any water installation or any changes to the water installation on your property to ensure that the work is done appropriately.
A copy of this bylaw could be found on www.capetown.gov.za/en/Documents/Water_By_Law_26Mar2010.pdf
