Cape Town estate agents and auctioneers are reminded that they need to register individually for permission to use show house boards and directional signage to advertise properties on show, says Annette Evans, regional manager of the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa’s Western Cape branch.
Annual registration takes place from 1 July until 31 July 2016 for all agents and interns. It is a new legal requirement for all those who transact with the City of Cape Town to provide their Business Partner (BP) number, which can be found on their rates accounts. If, however, an agent does not have a BP number they should provide a copy of their ID and a BP number will be created. Interns need to supply the City of Cape Town with the BP number of their principal to get their permits.
Each agent receives six permit stickers for the year on approval of their application. Any boards found to have photocopied or fake permit stickers can be removed. In addition, the City can prosecute any agent who uses fraudulent stickers, warns Evans. If agents find that their stickers become faded or damaged throughout the year, these will be replaced at no cost when they return the originals.
New registrations cost R1,919 for the year and re-registrations cost R1,207.30. Registration forms are available at all municipal offices. For electronic copies, email shanaaz.chetty@capetown.gov.za or phone 021 400 6611. Agents are advised to take their current Fidelity Fund Certificate, proof of ID (BP number) and proof of address, in hard copy form and electronically (saved as individual files onto a USB stick) to speed up the process, says Evans.
