Tracy asked:
I please need some advice as to what the reasons could be for a home transfer taking 9 months. In the interim, we were paying occupational rent that could have been applied to our mortgage bond. The seller has already gotten a wopping R31 500.00 out of us!
Regards
tracy
Dear Tracy,
Nine months does sound like an awfully long time to wait for your property transfer to take place.
Unfortunately, I would only be speculating wildly about reasons for the delay in transfer, if I tried to answer your question.
I suggest that you inquire from the conveyancer responsible for the transfer exactly what the hold-up is. I am surprised that you have not been kept up-to-date through regular letters, faxes, phone calls, or even SMS'es.
The conveyancer is usually appointed by the seller of a property, even if the purchasers have to fork over the fee. So, if the conveyancer is less than forthcoming, or if he/she is facilitating the seller's delay tactics in order to exploit your arrangement for occupation and rent, then have your own attorney contact them. Someone well versed in the mumbo-jumbo of conveyancing will be able to quickly tell you where the frog in the pipe can be found.
Just remember that property transfers are often delayed for very valid reasons. So, don't go to the conveyancer's office with a negative attitude. There might be a very reasonable explanation for the delayed transfer, and in that case, it would only be fair to pay the seller for the use of his/her property.
Remember that the seller probably has to service a mortgage bond on the property until transfer takes place AND he/she will most probably also have some kind of expense for their own new home.
You did not say how much the property was purchased for, but with house prices in South Africa being at the level they currently are, R31 500 for nine months worth of rent seems pretty reasonable to me.
The best of luck to you. I hope your property transfer gets finalized very soon! It just isn't the same until your name is on the deed, is it?
Sincerely yours,
Brick
yolandistyn
Private