Who is responsible to pay for electrical...

Asked by the Customer on 27-03-2015 14:30:55
Question posted in the Landlord Tenant Law category relating to Gauteng

Who is responsible to pay for electrical certificates if the landlord sells the property

Message from the Attorney

Posted by Att. Patrick on 27-03-2015 15:42:55
Hi there and thank you for your question,

I assume that you are the tenant of the property, and I'm also assuming that your landlord has told you that YOU are responsible to pay for the electrical certificate for the property to fix up the electrical installation so that the property can be sold.

If that is the case, then your landlord is incorrect!

Your landlord is the only party that is required to pay those charges. Typically a purchaser will require (in the deed of sale) that the seller (i.e. the landlord) must provide an electrical certificate to confirm that the property's electrics are up to date and safe. The landlord must then comply.

This does not impact on the tenant at all - except that the tenant will need to let the electrican in to the premises to attend to the work.

ONLY if the charges for the electrical certificates are listed in the rental agreement as being for the tenant's account will you (as the tenant) need to pay them.

Otherwise, the landlord must pay.  

If there is a part of the answer which you need more advice on, or clarity please continue in this same thread instead of opening a new question.

Att. Patrick

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