THE SELLER WAS A MINOR SO THE SALE FELL THROUGH

THE FACTS

DIKELEDI Mudau from Springs, Gauteng told the SunDefender her mother had an RDP house, and when her mother died, she found out that the house had been sold without her knowledge. The new owner claims to have bought the house from her younger brother.

WHAT I DID

I spoke to Scorpion Legal Protection to get advice regarding Dikeledi’s situation.

SOLUTION

Scorpion Legal Protection advised that a person may not sell a house without the title deed.

Also, owners are discouraged from selling RDPs because they are supposed to help people who can’t afford to buy houses of their own.

An owner may sell a house provided the proper procedure is followed, using a conveyancer to handle the finances and contract.

Once the transfer is registered and the title deed is issued, the money is released to the seller.

Dikeledi’s brother didn’t have the right to sell the property because he is a minor. A transaction of this nature cannot be undertaken with a minor and so the sale is null and void.