Overview

Overview
The key part of buying or selling the proper ty – as far as your interaction with the City is concerned – is the clearance process. As a property owner, you need to know that before you can sell your property. You are legally required to get a clearance certificate from the municipality. The seller is responsible for making sure that all rates and services have been paid and that the municipal account is up to date before selling the property. This is also the case if a tenant has leased the property. Sectional title owners receive their first rates account, under the new Municipal Property Rates Act, from 1 July 2008. In the past these accounts were sent to the body corporates. Like other property owners, sectional title owners will, therefore, need to apply for clearance certificates on assessment rates when selling their properties. Once this is done, a clearance certificate can be issued. This certificate shows that there are no outstanding municipal charges. The deeds office will only register the change in ownership once the clearance certificate has been received. The City processes up to 5 000 clearance certificates in any given month. It takes up to 30 days from the time the City receives your application, for your property to be cleared. Account issues must be resolved and account arrears should be paid before your request for a clearance certificate can be accepted by the City. If you have an account problem, please log a query with Joburg Connect on 0860 562 874.

The key part of buying or selling the proper ty – as far as your interaction with the City is concerned – is the clearance process. As a property owner, you need to know that before you can sell your property. You are legally required to get a clearance certificate from the municipality.

The seller is responsible for making sure that all rates and services have been paid and that the municipal account is up to date before selling the property. This is also the case if a tenant has leased the property.

Sectional title owners receive their first rates account, under the new Municipal Property Rates Act, from 1 July 2008. In the past these accounts were sent to the body corporates. Like other property owners, sectional title owners will, therefore, need to apply for clearance certificates on assessment rates when selling their properties.

Once this is done, a clearance certificate can be issued. This certificate shows that there are no outstanding municipal charges. The deeds office will only register the change in ownership once the clearance certificate has been received.

The City processes up to 5 000 clearance certificates in any given month. It takes up to 30 days from the time the City receives your application, for your property to be cleared.

Account issues must be resolved and account arrears should be paid before your request for a clearance certificate can be accepted by the City. If you have an account problem, please log a query with Joburg Connect on 0860 562 874.