When Collette Morton and her husband, Frederik, purchased her parents’ home from their deceased estate, they had no idea that their plan to generate additional income by renting out the property would turn their lives upside down, reports Roodepoort Record.

Collette’s father passed away in 2015 and, according to her, the electricity to the house was disconnected shortly afterwards.

“There isn’t even an electricity cable connected to the house,” she says.

She adds that her mother stayed in the house for some time, but that the water was disconnected around 2017 and the water meter was removed by the municipality.

“When trying to register the property in our names, we were shocked to find out that there was a huge amount owing to the municipality for water and electricity,” she says.

“The account now stands at about R180 000, and the property is billed for water and electricity every month, despite the fact that there is no water meter to read and the electricity is not connected.

“Despite having acknowledged that there are no meters and no services to the property, the municipality still refuses to reverse the charges,” she says.

The Roodepoort Record approached the City of Johannesburg’s director of communications and stakeholder management in the Group Finance department, Kgamanyane Maphologela, who said that the City is unable to comment on the merits of any matter that is currently subject to legal proceedings.

“However, the City can provide general information regarding the processes that ordinarily apply when ownership of a property changes,” Maphologela says.

Maphologela explains that, in terms of municipal and property transfer processes, a seller is generally required to apply for municipal clearance figures and settle the amounts due for a municipal clearance certificate to be issued.

“The certificate is a prerequisite for the registration of transfer through the Deeds Office. The City’s clearance unit may engage the relevant municipal-owned entities to verify matters such as the status of service connections, meter readings, and the dates on which services may have been disconnected.

“Where actual meter readings are not available, the City may render estimated charges in accordance with its approved water and electricity by-laws and credit control processes. Such estimates are subject to adjustment once verified actual readings are obtained.

“It is important to note that municipal accounts remain subject to verification processes, and adjustments may be considered where supporting information, actual meter readings, or further technical investigations warrant such review.

“The City remains committed to working with customers through established administrative processes to resolve account-related queries fairly and in accordance with applicable legislation, by-laws, and policies,” he says.

But a battle now lies ahead for the Mortons, as they have been advised to seek legal assistance.

“We have been left with no option but to turn to the courts,” a distraught Collette concludes.

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