Recent Feedback
We have lived on the farm for 5 years with a gentleman's agreement that we only pay the electricity and act as caretakers. Out of the blue we received a letter telling us that someone has bought the farm and we must vacate the property as soon as possible and that when the transfer has been recorded we will not be allowed occupation of the premises. How long do we legally have to find other accommodation. As we have not paid rent do we have squatter rights.
Optional Information: Province: Gauteng Already Tried: Nothing. I don't know what to do as we only got the letter delivered by hand last night (Sunday)
Dear Sir,From your description I believe that there was a verbal lease agreement, and that your services as caretaker were in place of rental. You will have at least 30 days within which to find alternative accommodation, and if any attempt to evict you is made before you find accommodation you should contact an attorney to oppose the eviction.The best route to follow, however, is to contact the new owner, and tell him that you wil voluntarily vacate the property, but he must just give you a reasonable time to find alternative accommodation.Regards,Barend
I understand what you say about speaking to the new owner but the seller told me that no money had yet been paid. Quoted from the original letter from the new owner "We are in the process of taking transfer of the property and once the recordal of transfer has taken place, we shall not allow occupation of the property by you. I must also add that the letter has no signature but is stamped by the SAP
Dear Sir,Even if transfer is to be registered today, the new owner will have to follow court processes. You are a legal occupier in terms of the current lease agreement. He will first have to give you one month's notice, then if you have not vacated the property he will have to get a court order. He can't simply call the police. You are not breaking any law.Regards,Barend
Experience: BLC LLB (Pret) LLM (Augsburg)