The Clearance Process

The Clearance Process
The appointed conveyancing attorney must apply for a clearance certificate from the City’s clearance unit by filling in the required clearance application form. The seller, in turn, has to fill in a cancellation of consumer agreement form to have the water and electricity account finalised, and to apply for the deposit to be refunded. In the case of a tenant leasing the property, a cancellation of consumer agreement form must be completed by the tenant. All arrear amounts for the two years proceding the date of application on the owner and tenant accounts will be included in the clearance figures. Once the clearance unit has verified all the information, the conveyancing attorney is informed of the clearance figures. This can take as little as five(5) working days if there are no problems or queries on the account. The clearance figure is the final amount to be paid to settle the account before the City issues the clearance certificate; the certificate indicates that no amount is outstanding on the account and that the account may be closed. If the seller’s account has arrears older than 2 years, the City will issue clearance figures as per the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, section 118, which states that amounts owing for the last 2 years have been paid. The arrear debt older than the 2 year period remain due and payable by the seller upon registration, if not paid, legal action might be instituted against the property. The conveyancer arranges for a full and final payment of the account, either in cash or with an attorney trust cheque. The clearance certificate is issued within 24 hours of payment and is valid for 60 days. If the sale of property is delayed over the 60 days, the conveyancer has to re-apply for a certificate. Download clearance form click here. Disputes on clearance amounts If you disagree with the clearance amount on your account you must log a query with Joburg Connect on 0860 562 874. Once your query has been resolved, you can re-submit your application for a Clearance Certificate.

The appointed conveyancing attorney must apply for a clearance certificate from the City’s clearance unit by filling in the required clearance application form.

The seller, in turn, has to fill in a cancellation of consumer agreement form to have the water and electricity account finalised, and to apply for the deposit to be refunded. In the case of a tenant leasing the property, a cancellation of consumer agreement form must be completed by the tenant. All arrear amounts for the two years proceding the date of application on the owner and tenant accounts will be included in the clearance figures.

Once the clearance unit has verified all the information, the conveyancing attorney is informed of the clearance figures. This can take as little as five(5) working days if there are no problems or queries on the account.

The clearance figure is the final amount to be paid to settle the account before the City issues the clearance certificate; the certificate indicates that no amount is outstanding on the account and that the account may be closed. If the seller’s account has arrears older than 2 years, the City will issue clearance figures as per the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, section 118, which states that amounts owing for the last 2 years have been paid.

The arrear debt older than the 2 year period remain due and payable by the seller upon registration, if not paid, legal action might be instituted against the property.

The conveyancer arranges for a full and final payment of the account, either in cash or with an attorney trust cheque. The clearance certificate is issued within 24 hours of payment and is valid for 60 days.

If the sale of property is delayed over the 60 days, the conveyancer has to re-apply for a certificate. Download clearance form click here.

Disputes on clearance amounts
If you disagree with the clearance amount on your account you must log a query with Joburg Connect on 0860 562 874. Once your query has been resolved, you can re-submit your application for a Clearance Certificate.