VOETSTOOTS? DON'T BE SO SURE!

Sellers sometimes hide serious property defects by saying they sold it as is, but a recent court case gives hope to buyers who’ve been duped

- LESEGO SEOKWANG 

BUYING a property is a big deal – for many of us, it’s the greatest asset we’ll ever own, so signing on the dotted line requires a deep breath and a leap of faith. We must trust we’re getting what we’ve been promised and that the wool isn’t being pulled over our eyes. 

Yet, many homeowners discover that after a sale, things aren’t quite as they seem. And the word “voetstoots”, which essentially means you buy it as is, is thrown around far too often. 

But a recent case is enough to give hope to those of us who’ve found ourselves sucked into a dishonest sale. 

Molatelo Maloka walked away the victor after she’d taken the sellers of the property she bought to court, claiming they hadn’t disclosed serious defects in the home. 

At first, the house in Roodepoort, Johannesburg, seemed like her dream home. The walls were freshly painted and the sellers, Nicholas and Hesta Vermeulen, assured her they hadn’t experienced major problems. 

Before the transfer went through, Molatelo visited the R2,3 million property and noticed some damp spots, which the sellers said they’d fix. But once the transfer was completed, Molatelo discovered the house was riddled with damp. 

The extent of the trouble became clear when she returned to the property after a holiday in Polokwane, Limpopo, soon after taking ownership. She noticed an overwhelming smell of damp when she opened the front door.