Annetjie Coetsee is a practising Attorney, Notary Public and Conveyancer, operating from both the Cape Town and Helderberg branches of STBB. Her responsibilities include: Director of STBB, branch head of Somerset West office, Executive member and head of the Development Law Unit. The specialized Development Law Unit has nine specialists addressing development requirements in the fields of planning law, environmental law, construction law, renewable energy law and, very importantly, local government law. She is a practicing Conveyancer (dealing with a conglomerate of property related matters such as sectional titles, developments, bonds, transfers and municipal work for local councils). Although she specialises in conveyancing she is a family law attorney, with a special interest in the constitutional law aspects regarding children’s rights. She is part of the marketing department and takes care of the brand development on a national level. Annetjie is further responsible for compliance and reporting initiatives. She is involved with substantial research activities relating to the property market and property investment and communicates interesting and relevant facts to her clients and the media, conducts Legal Updates for banks and estate agents. Her knowledge and insurmountable experience in the property market and connections with key roleplayers in the property industry makes her an invaluable ally to any property investor.

From the desk of Annetjie | Rate clearance procedure for vacant land in Overstrand

A “plot cleaning deposit” is included in the rates clearance figure issued to the transferring attorney, should the land not be clear upon inspection by the fire department. The amount of the deposit is calculated as a fixed standard fee plus an additional rate, calculated in accordance with the size of the property.

The following two options are available:

  1. The seller can arrange cleaning of the property after receipt of the figures, after which arrangements must be made for the fire department to do an inspection. If the fire department is satisfied, amended rates clearance figures (excluding a plot cleaning deposit) may be requested; or
  2. The seller pays the rates clearance figures, including the plot cleaning deposit and the rates clearance certificate is issued. After the Municipality received notification of transfer of the property, and the seller’s application for his refund, the fire department has to do an inspection. If they are satisfied that the property was cleared, the plot cleaning deposit will be refunded to the seller. If the property was not cleared by the seller at his expense, the plot cleaning deposit will be retained by council.

The “plot cleaning deposit” is calculated as follows: Standard Fee of R1 243.29) plus the following rates per square metre:
Hermanus (Voëlklip, Eastcliff, Hermanus Heights, Westcliff, Northcliff, Mount Pleasant, Zwelihle, Sandbaai, Onrustrivier, Vermont, Hawston, Fisherhaven) R2,60
Gansbaai (De Kelders, Perlemoenbaai, Blompark, Masakhane, Birkenhead, Van Dyksbaai, Franskraalstrand, Pearly Beach) R2,80
Stanford R2,50
Kleinmond (Rooi Els, Pringlebaai, Betty’s Baai, Overhills) R2,90
The Fire Department inspection fee amounts to a further R214

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