Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa October 2015 | Page 34

Compliance Certificates

M

Staying on the right side of Municipal law

unicipal laws now require
homeowners to obtain additional
certificates before a transfer
of ownership takes place. Previously only
Electrical and Beetle Certificates were
required, but new laws now stipulate that
you need to obtain a Gas Certificate, Electric
Fencing Certificate as well as Plumbing/
Water Certificates.
Some of them (electrical certificates,
electrical fence certificates) are required under
national regulations; some (water certificates)
under municipal by-laws; and some (beetle
certificates) have become accepted practice
Electrical Certificate:
An Electrical Certificate has to be submitted
before the local authority will connect the
electricity supply. This Certificate has to be
completed by a qualified electrician and has to
be obtained by the seller and made available
to the purchaser. Take note that the certificate
is only valid should there be no additions
or changes to the electrical system of the
property.
Electric Fence Compliance Certificate:
In terms of the Electrical Machinery
Regulations of 2011, issued under the
Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of
1993, an additional compliance certificate
is now required where there is a change of
ownership of immovable property.
The compliance certificate relates to
electrical fence systems. An electrical fence
system, as defined in the regulations, is an
electrified barrier consisting of one or more
bare conductors erected against the trespass
of persons or animals coupled with electrical
machinery arranged so as to deliver a periodic
non-lethal amount of electrical energy to an
electric fence connected to it. This can only

be issued by a party that is registered as an
electric fence system installer.
Gas Certificate:
Gas has become a more popular commodity
due to the rising cost of electricity. Gas is
a very dangerous component so the Gas
Certificate was introduced for safety reasons.
This Certificate ensures that all gas fittings are
safe and in proper working order.
Gas installations for which Certificates
of Conformity are required, would include
built-in gas fires or braais, gas stoves and hot
water systems and the like. Furthermore, in
terms of Regulation 17(3) of the Pressure
Equipment Regulations, any person disposing
of a property on which such a gas appliance
is installed, must obtain a Certificate of
Conformity in respect thereof, and must
deliver a copy to the purchaser (on the same
basis as an Electrical Compliance Certificate).
Water Installation
If your property is situated within Cape
Town’s municipal area, you’ll need to know
that the City’s Water By-law (which came
into effect in 2010) requires you to be in
possession of a Certificate of Compliance of
Water Installation before transfer can take
place. The Plumbing/Water Certificate must
be done by a certified plumber and guarantees
that all plumbing in the property complies
with the correct standards.
You should check that:
• the water installation conform to the
National Building Regulations
• there are no defects
• the water meter is registered
• there is no discharge of storm water into
the sewerage system

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