Could your homeowners' association stop your home sale?

That's the word from Gerhard Kotzé, MD of the RealNet estate agency group, who says this is the effect of a condition to be found in the title deeds of many stands or homes within community housing schemes, even though these are usually "freehold" properties.

"What is more, such a condition is binding in law whether the buyer is really aware of it at the time of purchase or not."

In practical terms, he says, a clause in the title deed which states that an owner may not sell or transfer his property in an estate or cluster development without the consent of the HOA means that he has to inform the association of his plans to sell, and obtain the required consent, before he can put his home on the market or accept any offer to purchase.

"On the other hand, if he does conclude an agreement of sale with a buyer before obtaining consent, the sale must be clearly understood to be subject to the HOA's consent. If this is not forthcoming, the sale could be void."

In most cases, of course, the HOA's consent will be quite easy to obtain, provided that the homeowner and would-be seller is not arrears with his levy payments.

However, says Kotzé, delays can arise if an HOA withholds consent to "get even" with a seller for past differences - or perhaps just does not give consent timeously because it is badly organised and slow to deal with administrative matters.

"In addition, an HOA would be well within its rights to refuse an owner permission to sell if it had reason to believe that the proposed buyer would not be able to pay his levies or would be delinquent in doing so.

"This is all the more reason for home sellers in estates and cluster complexes to work with qualified and experienced property professionals who understand the legalities, will ensure that they get all the necessary approvals and will only introduce financially capable buyers to their properties."