There are several pitfalls one may encounter when attempting to rate VAT at 0% for a commercial property transaction.

The small KwaZulu-Natal town of Verulam lies just 27km north of Durban, a stone’s throw away from the Gateway shopping centre and Umdloti Beach, and a few minutes’ drive from King Shaka International Airport.

The area of zero-rated VAT for a commercial property transaction can be confusing and must be properly understood if one wishes to avoid confusion and delays.

Port Elizabeth has a reputation for being “the friendly city”, and its great schools, sandy beaches, salt-scented air and relaxed pace of life have certainly won the town many devoted residents.

Established just over 60 years ago to provide housing, schools and other amenities for the employees of Sasol’s first coal-to-oil refinery, Sasolburg is still a “company town” in the sense that its economic wellbeing is still largely dependent on a few big manufacturing plants.

When purchasing a property from a company or close corporation (CC) it is essential to ascertain whether the selling entity is currently registered with the Companies and Intellectual Properties commission or CIPC, previously known as CIPRO.

Commercial properties can host a variety of different tenants. What makes the property successful for both landlord and tenant will be whether the tenant mix works for everyone.

Founded forty years ago to house a few thousand people working on the then-new Sasol Two and Sasol Three plants in Mpumalanga, Secunda has since grown into a thriving modern town with about 300 000 residents and a complex economy of its own.

It’s every landlord’s nightmare: being stuck with a tenant who doesn’t pay rent or isn’t looking after your property and refuses to move out, no matter what you do.

While Ballito has always been a popular seaside destination for Durban locals, it was the opening of the King Shaka International Airport in May 2010 that really put this coastal gem on the map.