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Chapter 11
Related Sections
1
INTRODUCTION
2
LAND
3
What is the government’s land policy?
4
Laws and court cases that apply to the land reform programme
5
Municipal governments and their role in land, land tenure and evictions
6
Land restitution
7
Land redistribution and land grants
8
Other land reform initiatives
9
Land tenure reform
10
Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) (No 62 of 1997) and the Extension of Security of Tenure Amendment Act (No 2 of 2018)
11
Land Rights Management Board and Committees
12
Possible repeal of ESTA and the Land Tenure Security Bill
13
Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE) (No 19 of 1998)
14
Dealing with land claims and other land reform disputes – the Land Claims Court
15
Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (No 16 of 2013) (SPLUMA)
16
HOUSING
17
What is the government’s housing policy?
18
Laws passed to ensure access to quality housing
19
The housing subsidy
20
Types of housing subsidies
21
The role of development workers in helping people to access housing subsidies
22
The role of local government and housing
23
BUYING A HOUSE
24
The offer to purchase
25
Transfer
26
Defects in a house
27
RENTING A HOUSE
28
Tenants, landlords and leases
29
The Rental Housing Act (No 50 of 1999)
30
Rental Housing Amendment Act (No 35 of 2014)
31
EVICTIONS FROM RENTED PROPERTY
32
Trespassing
33
PROBLEMS
34
Problem 1: A landlord applies for a civil eviction order
35
Problem 2: Being arrested and charged with trespassing
36
Problem 3: Protecting dismissed farmworkers against eviction
37
Problem 4: Protecting labour tenants against losing land
38
Problem 5: Provision of land, housing and services for homeless people
39
Problem 6: Negotiating to upgrade an informal settlement
40
Problem 7: Applying for an individual housing subsidy
41
Problem 8: Common problems in renting a house or flat
42
Problem 9: Falling behind on rent, rates and service payments to the local council
43
Problem 10: The hidden costs of buying a house
44
Problem 11: Falling behind on bond payments
45
Problem 12: Problems with a house you bought
46
Problem 13: Getting money from the Land Bank for farming
47
CHECKLISTS
48
Checklist: General Land and Housing
49
Checklist: Paying off a house that you have bought

Problem 11: Falling behind on bond payments

What do I do if I fall behind on my house bond repayments?

BOND REPAYMENTS

Banks are very strict about being on time with your repayments. If you have money problems it is a good idea to see if you can change your budget around, or take in lodgers, so that you can still meet your repayments.

If you can’t do this, you must immediately go and discuss your problems with the bank where you have the bond. Don’t wait until you have missed a payment. They will not be so willing to help you then.

The bank will usually try and work out something to help you. For example, if you had to take a drop in salary, they might let you pay lower payments and pay over a longer time, say 25 years instead of 20. This means the house will cost you more in the long run, but it helps you out now.

If you miss a payment, the bank will send you a letter of demand. If they do not hear from you and you miss four months’ payments in a row, they will take the house away, have it sold and then use the money to cover what you owe them on the bond.