Answers to your questions

Have a question you would like answered? Email us and we may answer it. The questions here are based on ones from our readers, with identifying information removed.

Topic: Housing  |  Show questions and answers for all topics

How can we stop our brother from selling our late father's house?

The property can only be sold with the written permission of all the heirs or if there isn’t enough cash in the estate to pay all the debts

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Are long-term farm dwellers allowed to keep livestock?

You are legally allowed to live on the farm but whether you can have livestock is up to the owner. You can contact the Association for Rural Advancement.

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Can SASSA give me a one-off advance or loan on an existing grant?

You may want to apply for the SRD grant and try to get maintenance from your children's father.

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How can I compel my landlady to give my deposit back?

If there is no damage to the house and you are not behind in rent, you can lay a complaint at the provincial Rental Housing Tribunal.

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How do you change the title deed of a property bought from the council?

Like with other properties, the title deed is transferred by a conveyancing attorney.

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My sister-in-law was awarded an RDP house but it is being occupied by someone claiming to have bought it. What can she do?

She needs to ask the municipality of the MEC of housing to intervene. Legal help may be needed.

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How can I transfer the property that my mother bought in 1993 to my name if it was never transferred to her?

You need to negotiate a new deal with the municipality that issued the Deed of Sale.

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Am I responsible for outstanding municipal bills of my newly purchased property?

The seller should have paid the bills before the sale. You should contact the municipality.

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My sister and I inherited our late mother's RDP. Can I transfer the house to only my name?

You and your sister have an equal right to the house, so you would have to come to some agreement.

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Can I submit a letter of authority instead of a permission-to-occupy certificate to withdraw my housing allowance?

It wouldn’t be permissible to send the LOA instead of the PTO, as they are very different documents

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