Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa Dec/January 2020 | Page 11

PROPERTY ADVICE Bond originators Q What do bond originator companies do? — and what documents will I need to provide for a Bond Originator? MEYER DE WAAL Director at MDW Inc. A W hen applying for a home loan, a financial institution will require a completed application form with the supporting documents to the financial institution [bank]. These documents will be; a consent that the bank can obtain your credit report, proof of your income, bank statements for the past 3 months, your identity documents and proof of residence. If you are self-employed or a Company or Trust purchasing, more comprehensive financial documents must be provided. Your own bank with whom you have banked with for many years may not give you the best home loan and interest rate. You need to shop around for the best home loan deal. It can be a tedious task to prepare the same application to more than one financial institution/bank. A mortgage originator can multi-submit your application and will be updated with which bank will have the most aggressive home loan-lending campaign on the “go” at the time of your application. A good example is a recent application that was submitted to five banks. Three banks declined, but two accepted the home loan. Expiration of a lease agreement Q What are a tenant’s rights and obligations when a lease expires, and the Landlord allows the tenant to carry on staying on the property? CILNA STEYN Director at SSLR Inc. A A lease agreement will generally terminate on the date as agreed to by the parties. However, should section 14 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) apply to the lease agreement, the lease agreement will automatically continue on a month to month basis. It ends on the same terms and conditions set out within the lease agreement, unless the landlord informs the tenant 40 – 80 business days prior to the impending termination date that the agreement will terminate on the agreed termination date. In other words, if the lease agreement is governed by the CPA the lease agreement will automatically continue on a month-to-month basis, leaving the tenant with all the rights and responsibilities in terms of the original lease agreement. At present within our law there is no legal requirement for a lease agreement to be in writing. The effect of this is that should the landlord allow the tenant to remain in occupation after the termination or cancellation of the lease agreement, the terms of the lease agreement will remain in full force and effect during the further period of occupation. This agreement can then be terminated by either party, by giving the other one month’s written notice of termination to the other party. In a case where the agreement was terminated by giving the required notice and on termination the tenant remains in occupation, continues to make rental payments and the landlord allows occupation. The actions of the parties will be considered to be tacit reinstatement of the lease agreement. The effect of this will be exactly the same as set out within the paragraph above, in other words the lease agreement will remain of full force and effect and terminable by one month’s written notice of termination to the other party. It is advisable for the parties to conclude a written addendum in respect of the extended period of occupation as it is rarely a good idea to labour under a verbal or tacit lease agreement. SA Real Estate Investor Magazine DECEMBER/JANUARY 2020 9