Role and importance of Compliance Certificates.

Electrical, gas, plumbing and electric fencing certificates of compliance (CoCs) are a legal requirement for transferring property from one owner to the next. In some parts of the country, beetle-free certificates are also required, but this varies from one local authority to the next.

Compliance with certain installations is prescribed by law throughout South Africa, and banks usually require all the necessary certificates for security purposes before issuing a home loan.

Gunston Strandvik Mlambo lists the necessary compliance certificates, as well as others that are also customary in some parts of South Africa.

Electrical CoC

The requirements for an Electrical Compliance Certificate (ECOC) are set out in the regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This CoC is a legal document verifying that the electrical installation on the property complies with all the legal requirements stipulated in the Electrical Installations Occupational Health and Safety Act.

A new certificate is not required for transferring ownership of a property if there is a valid certificate in place that is not more than two years old. If alterations have been made to the installation, a new certificate will need to be issued.

An electrical CoC will certify that distribution boards and all wiring are safe and have been installed in compliance with the relevant regulations. It also covers earthing and bonding of all metal components, including TV antennae and satellite dishes. It will also cover the socket outlets, light switches and all isolators for fixed appliances. However, an electrical certificate will not cover any appliances such as kettles, freezers and fridges.

Electrical CoCs may only be issued by electricians accredited with the Electrical Contractors Authority.

Electrical fence CoC

An Electrical fence CoC must be issued by a qualified and registered electrician and is required if an electric fence surrounds the property or if an electric fence has been modified.

This CoC also applies to individual sectional title units if there is an electrical fence system on common property in the complex.

Gas CoC

This certificate will certify that the installation of any gas appliances is in safe and working condition. It can only be issued by an authorised person registered with the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of Southern Africa (LPGAS). It is not needed if the property has no gas installations or appliances.

Plumbing CoC

A water installation - or plumbing) - CoC certifies that the water supply to the property meets the requirements stipulated in the municipal by-laws. This certificate only applies to properties sold in the Cape Town municipal authority.

This certification ensures that the hot water cylinder installation complies with standards set by SANS 10252 and SANS 10254. It ensures the water meter registers when a tap is open and stops completely when no water is drawn. It also ensures that no stormwater is discharged into the sewerage system and that there is no cross-connection between the potable water supply and any greywater or groundwater system which may be installed.

It can only be issued by a qualified registered plumber.

Beetle-Free CoC

Although this certificate is not required by law, it is still customary in many sale agreements. In particular, it is usually included in sale agreements for free-standing homes in coastal regions such as the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

The certificate will certify that the wood structures on the property are free from beetles that destroy wood:

• European house borer (Hyloytopus bajulus)
• Longhorn beetle (Oxypleurus nodeiri)
• West-Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis)

Although the sellers are responsible for seeing to - and paying for - the issuing of compliance certificates, it's important for buyers to make sure they have copies of all the compliance certificates before the property gets transferred to them.