The Cost of “Asking for Forgiveness Later” in Benoni’s Property Market

For years, the unofficial approach to home renovations was often: build now, sort out the paperwork later. Across Benoni, homeowners have added backyard cottages in Actonville, lapas in Farrarmere, swimming pools in Rynfield and carports in Northmead without always updating their approved municipal plans.

When it comes time to sell, however, that missing paperwork can become a costly problem.

With greater focus on property and land-use compliance, including requirements governed by SPLUMA and local municipal regulations, sellers need to ensure that their property matches the plans held by the municipality. An alteration that was never approved may only come to light once a sale is already underway.

For sellers, this can create several complications:

• Financing can be affected: Banks may request approved building plans when assessing a home loan. Missing or outdated plans can delay the bond process and potentially place the sale at risk.
• Disclosure matters: The Property Practitioners Act requires sellers to disclose known defects and concerns relating to a property. A voetstoots, or “as-is”, clause should not be relied upon to conceal known issues, including unauthorised alterations.
• Delays can become expensive: Rectifying unapproved structures may mean appointing a draughtsperson, submitting retrospective plans, paying municipal fees or making alterations to achieve compliance. This can add both time and unexpected costs to the selling process.

The days of treating building plans as paperwork to worry about later are disappearing. For Benoni homeowners, they should form part of preparing a property for market.

If you are considering selling, check your approved plans before listing and make sure they reflect your home as it stands today. Sorting out discrepancies early could save you time, money and unnecessary stress when a buyer is ready to sign.

• View our latest listings and contact the team: Pam Golding Properties East Rand
• Get a professional property valuation: Contact Caroline Franks – Pam Golding Properties Benoni