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Suretyship vs Guarantee. What’s the difference?

02 May 2024

In this article, we look at two primary forms of security commonly found in financial transactions, namely suretyship agreements and... guarantees, and explain the difference between these two forms of security.

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13
Article

Leave to Appeal vs Special Leave to Appeal

02 May 2024

On 4 April 2024 in the matter of Savannah Country Estate Homeowners Association v Zero Plus Trading 194 (Pty) Ltd... and Others (773/2022) [2024] ZASCA 40, our Supreme Court of Appeal (“SCA”) had to address the important difference between an application for leave to appeal and an application for special leave to appeal. In this article, we analyse the SCA’s views in this regard.

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16
Article

Can Landlords unilaterally charge for additional services?

02 May 2024

The relationship between landlord and tenant can be a complex one fraught with dangers for a careless landlord. In this... article, we explore whether a landlord can provide additional value-added services to its tenants beyond the scope of what is outlined in the lease agreement and then unilaterally charge extra for such services or remove existing services without consequence.

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12
Article

Blazing changes in the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill

24 April 2024

In early April 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill.  

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12
Article

Can a Homeowners Association take over refuse removal from a local authority?

27 March 2024

With many local authorities struggling to provide municipal services to residents, a key question that arose in a recent case... was whether a Homeowners Association was entitled to take over the function of refuse removal from the local authority and whether the local authority was still entitled to charge for refuse removal.

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56
Article

What to expect from the new draft Employment Equity Act Regulations

27 March 2024

The Employment Equity Amendment Act 4 of 2022 (“Amendment Act”) was introduced in April 2023 but the commencement date has... yet to be promulgated. To address the sectoral numerical targets provided for in the Amendment Act, new draft regulations were issued for comment on 1 February 2024 (“Draft Regulations”). In this article we take a look at the draft regulations and what they mean for employers.

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95
Article

How liable is an owner for damage caused by animals?

26 March 2024

One has often read about owners being held liable for a dog attack on a person, but what about an... animal on the road which ends up causing an accident? Can the owner be held liable for the resulting damage?

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665
Article

To click or to ink? Are electronically signed sale of property agreements valid in SA?

26 March 2024

In the current digital era, the use of electronic signatures has substantially increased, reshaping traditional practices with their convenience and... efficiency. From large corporations to small businesses, organisations are embracing electronic signatures to streamline processes and adapt to a digital business landscape. This article explores the validity of electronic signatures and specifically how it affects the validity of a sale of property agreement. 

READ MORE
686
Article

Suretyship vs Guarantee. What’s the difference?

02 May 2024

In this article, we look at two primary forms of security commonly found in financial transactions, namely suretyship agreements and... guarantees, and explain the difference between these two forms of security.

READ MORE
13
Article

Leave to Appeal vs Special Leave to Appeal

02 May 2024

On 4 April 2024 in the matter of Savannah Country Estate Homeowners Association v Zero Plus Trading 194 (Pty) Ltd... and Others (773/2022) [2024] ZASCA 40, our Supreme Court of Appeal (“SCA”) had to address the important difference between an application for leave to appeal and an application for special leave to appeal. In this article, we analyse the SCA’s views in this regard.

READ MORE
16
Article

Can Landlords unilaterally charge for additional services?

02 May 2024

The relationship between landlord and tenant can be a complex one fraught with dangers for a careless landlord. In this... article, we explore whether a landlord can provide additional value-added services to its tenants beyond the scope of what is outlined in the lease agreement and then unilaterally charge extra for such services or remove existing services without consequence.

READ MORE
12
Article

Blazing changes in the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill

24 April 2024

In early April 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill.  

READ MORE
12
Article

Can a Homeowners Association take over refuse removal from a local authority?

27 March 2024

With many local authorities struggling to provide municipal services to residents, a key question that arose in a recent case... was whether a Homeowners Association was entitled to take over the function of refuse removal from the local authority and whether the local authority was still entitled to charge for refuse removal.

READ MORE
56
Article

What to expect from the new draft Employment Equity Act Regulations

27 March 2024

The Employment Equity Amendment Act 4 of 2022 (“Amendment Act”) was introduced in April 2023 but the commencement date has... yet to be promulgated. To address the sectoral numerical targets provided for in the Amendment Act, new draft regulations were issued for comment on 1 February 2024 (“Draft Regulations”). In this article we take a look at the draft regulations and what they mean for employers.

READ MORE
95
Article

How liable is an owner for damage caused by animals?

26 March 2024

One has often read about owners being held liable for a dog attack on a person, but what about an... animal on the road which ends up causing an accident? Can the owner be held liable for the resulting damage?

READ MORE
665
Article

To click or to ink? Are electronically signed sale of property agreements valid in SA?

26 March 2024

In the current digital era, the use of electronic signatures has substantially increased, reshaping traditional practices with their convenience and... efficiency. From large corporations to small businesses, organisations are embracing electronic signatures to streamline processes and adapt to a digital business landscape. This article explores the validity of electronic signatures and specifically how it affects the validity of a sale of property agreement. 

READ MORE
686
Article
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Filter: Lease
Can Landlords unilaterally charge for additional services?

02 May 2024

The relationship between landlord and tenant can be a complex one fraught with dangers for a careless landlord. In this... article, we explore whether a landlord can provide additional value-added services to its tenants beyond the scope of what is outlined in the lease agreement and then unilaterally charge extra for such services or remove existing services without consequence.

READ MORE
12
Article
Your right of pre-emption when a group of properties is being sold

14 July 2021

I rent a portion of a farm which forms part of a larger group of properties. In my lease agreement... I have a standard right of pre-emption. It has come to my attention that the owner wishes to sell the entire portfolio of properties as a single transaction, including the portion I am leasing. I don’t want to lose the property, but I’m not sure if my right of pre-emption still applies if the group of properties is being sold?

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468
Article
Can I run an Airbnb from my sectional title unit?

16 March 2021

I am an owner of a sectional title unit and would like to advertise my unit for short term rentals... on Airbnb, is this legally allowed?

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377
Article
Is now the time to buy or rent?

12 October 2020

I have been saving for some time now with a view to buy my own property. However, with all the... upheavals of the last year I’m wondering whether buying is still the right option and whether I should not continue renting. Any advice?

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394
Article

11 September 2020

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261
Article
Can my insolvency lead to termination of my lease?

11 April 2019

I own a few commercial properties that I rent out to businesses. Recently it has come to my attention that... one of my longstanding tenants is going under financially. He has nearly two years left on his term. Can I terminate his rental agreement if he becomes insolvent?

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269
Article
Can I force my tenant to trade?

11 March 2019

I own a small shopping complex. A key tenant, who must give six months’ notice if they don’t renew their... lease, has just given notice. I don’t have a problem with that, but with months to go before they exit they have now stopped trading. This will have a big impact on feet to the complex if they don’t trade and I’ve asked them to continue trading until they vacate the premises, but the client refuses and says he’s cutting his losses. Can I force him to trade for the remainder of the lease agreement?

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287
Article
Does my lease terminate if the landlord dies?

04 October 2018

My father recently passed away. He had rental properties in his name and one of the tenants phoned me to... hear if he has to move out now that my father has passed away. What is the position? Has the lease come to an end?

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336
Article
Can I rent out my sectional title unit as holiday accommodation?

08 March 2018

I have a sectional title unit at the coast, which I only use a few times a year. I would... like to rent out the unit for holiday accommodation, but am unsure whether I can just do this?

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299
Article
Does Ubuntu apply to contracts?

07 February 2018

My business has been renting from the same landlord for over five years without missing a payment. We lost a... big contract last year, so cashflow has been a bit tight, and caused us to be late on a rental payment. Our landlord immediately threatened that he would evict us if it happened again. Last month, unfortunately, we again slipped a payment and the landlord has now started eviction proceedings. Despite that our contract allows him to do that, I feel this is unfair as we have been a good tenant for a long time. Surely he can’t just kick us out because of two late payments.

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285
Article
What happens to my right of first refusal when I renew my lease?

07 September 2017

I have been renting a house for a few years, and because I would like to eventually buy the place... should the owner decide to sell, I asked that we include a right of first refusal in my favour in the lease agreement to buy the house. The lease has been renewed a few times over the years. Now the owner has decided to sell to his brother-in-law saying that my right fell away when the lease was renewed and no longer exists. Can he do this?

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299
Article

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