Electric Fence Certification

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KingBel

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Hi Guys/Gals,

I am currently in the process of buying a sectional title property in Pretoria East. Recently however, it has been brought to my attention that a electric fence certificate is required at the time of transfer. I phoned the body corporate and they seem to not have any idea about what I'm referring to. I have heard that some banks are refusing to issue a bond if this certificate is not available (knowing the hassles it could cause later). The penalties for not having one seem quite severe as well.. according to this website: http://www.buildingregulations.co.za/new-electric-fence-law/

My question is: Have any of you encountered this requirement and how did you deal with it? Is there a overseeing body I can dial that can confirm if the property has a certificate?
 
KingBel said:
Hi Guys/Gals,

I am currently in the process of buying a sectional title property in Pretoria East. Recently however, it has been brought to my attention that a electric fence certificate is required at the time of transfer. I phoned the body corporate and they seem to not have any idea about what I'm referring to. I have heard that some banks are refusing to issue a bond if this certificate is not available (knowing the hassles it could cause later). The penalties for not having one seem quite severe as well.. according to this website: http://www.buildingregulations.co.za/new-electric-fence-law/

My question is: Have any of you encountered this requirement and how did you deal with it? Is there a overseeing body I can dial that can confirm if the property has a certificate?
Click to expand...

It's a new requirement, the competent authorities have only been appointed in the last year.
Same status as an electrical compliance certificate... That body corporate better get their ass into gear - and it's the seller's responsibility to provide it. It's a physical document...
 
Sinbad said:
It's a new requirement, the competent authorities have only been appointed in the last year.
Same status as an electrical compliance certificate... That body corporate better get their ass into gear - and it's the seller's responsibility to provide it. It's a physical document...
Click to expand...

Thanks. It's quite worrying coz I think the seller seems more inclined to just get another buyer (that won't ask difficult questions) than actually sort this out.
 
KingBel said:
Thanks. It's quite worrying coz I think the seller seems more inclined to just get another buyer (that won't ask difficult questions) than actually sort this out.
Click to expand...

The seller will have to get it regardless...

Its a legal requirement.
 
ok.. so I will refuse to sign the 'Offer to Purchase' until a clause regarding the certification has been added.
 
KingBel said:
ok.. so I will refuse to sign the 'Offer to Purchase' until a clause regarding the certification has been added.
Click to expand...

You could sign it to secure the property - sale would just stall at deed's office when no fence certificate exists - then the seller would be forced to come up with one or else his estate agent will start moaning about a commission delay
 
Sinbad said:
It's a new requirement, the competent authorities have only been appointed in the last year.
Same status as an electrical compliance certificate... That body corporate better get their ass into gear - and it's the seller's responsibility to provide it. It's a physical document...
Click to expand...

New requirement indeed, so that the fence cannot kill the criminals, who have more rights than the law abiding.
 
FlashSA said:
You could sign it to secure the property - sale would just stall at deed's office when no fence certificate exists - then the seller would be forced to come up with one or else his estate agent will start moaning about a commission delay
Click to expand...

This is exactly the thing though.. the seller's attorney does not see this as a problem as he has (supposedly) successfully registered a few properties in the last few months without the certificate. Seems like the law is being arbitrarily applied. I worry that we will continue with the OTP, and everything will just go through.. and the onus to follow up on the certificate will then fall to me as the new owner.
 
I understand it is a requirement for the seller. I was told this by a reputable electric fence installer who recently came to service our complex's fence. Insist on it.
 
KingBel said:
This is exactly the thing though.. the seller's attorney does not see this as a problem as he has (supposedly) successfully registered a few properties in the last few months without the certificate. Seems like the law is being arbitrarily applied. I worry that we will continue with the OTP, and everything will just go through.. and the onus to follow up on the certificate will then fall to me as the new owner.
Click to expand...

The sellers attorney is an idiot then.

Its a legal requirement, do you have anything in writing that this attorney is suggesting he doesn't follow the law?
 
Koosi said:
New requirement indeed, so that the fence cannot kill the criminals, who have more rights than the law abiding.
Click to expand...

Ag man, moenie jouself simple hou nie. As die fence kriminele dood sal did ook jou of iemand ander se kinders maklik dood of troeteldiere... mompel mompel iets van daars nie pille.... mompel mompel

If it has certification, then it properly installed, and if its properly installed at least you know its effective.

Its got nothing to do with killing criminals, you don't even have clue what an electric fence is about. Its a perimeter alarm and an electric fence is supposed to be alarmed and an alarm must sound if its tampered with (and it can be linked to the armed responses alarm). Otherwise its of less use than a razor wire fence since it can be cut like butter. It has happened, one complex turned the siren off since it was "bothering us too much", working fence got cut one night, 10 cars broken into. People only realised the next morning.

The electric shock itself is just a secondary deterrent.
 
as it is a legal requirement...

write it in as a condition of purchase on the OTP

basically along the same lines as you would do if you owned and needed to sell another property....
 
Anyway:

http://www.gido.co.za/files/Legislative_Advisory_2014-03-19.pdf

10.2.2.1. What this means is that should you wish to sell your property,
residential and or commercial, freehold and or sectional title,
whichever the case may be, within such a complex, estate, business
park, etc. and you have your own electric fence, whether access
controlled or not, you will need said certification to effect transfer
Click to expand...
 
These CoC's are a scam. Had a fence installed 18 months ago. Sold the house. Got the same company to do the CoC and they found fault with THEIR installation. Insisted some solder joints needs insulation tape around it. Cost me R1,100 to "fix" and issue the CoC. Total BS.
 
biometrics said:
These CoC's are a scam. Had a fence installed 18 months ago. Sold the house. Got the same company to do the CoC and they found fault with THEIR installation. Insisted some solder joints needs insulation tape around it. Cost me R1,100 to "fix" and issue the CoC. Total BS.
Click to expand...

So they didn't install it to spec in the first place - which was probably before the spec had been published/finalised?

I had a fence done in Jan last year. The same company then came and inspected it later last year (once the disaster around accreditation of installers had been sorted out), and they issued my certificate. Reminds me, I haven't picked it up yet :/
 
http://www.saefia.net/documents/Legal%20Booklet.pdf
The link above is to a booklet that summarizes the requirements. I recently had to replace my energizer and the store told me about the regulations, so I have installed the earth spikes myself, 3 1.2m apart nearest the energizer and one every 30m. Still have to get more warning signs, and the lightning protectors though.
 
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Sinbad said:
So they didn't install it to spec in the first place - which was probably before the spec had been published/finalised?
Click to expand...

The CoC's became a requirement a month or two later, fair enough. Charging me R750 to wrap a few solder joints with insulation tape was not cool though. The CoC itself was R350.

They've got you though, you need the CoC to sell a house.
 
biometrics said:
The CoC's became a requirement a month or two later, fair enough. Charging me R750 to wrap a few solder joints with insulation tape was not cool though. The CoC itself was R350.

They've got you though, you need the CoC to sell a house.
Click to expand...

Solder joints? Not making sense. Snap a pic!
 
biometrics said:
The CoC's became a requirement a month or two later, fair enough. Charging me R750 to wrap a few solder joints with insulation tape was not cool though. The CoC itself was R350.

They've got you though, you need the CoC to sell a house.
Click to expand...

You should have said "wait just a few minutes", wrapped them up with insulation tape yourself and said "check again please"
 
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