Category Archives: Co-ownership

How to register a new company

Posted on by

B4The basic steps to register a company under the Companies Act of 2008 at the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) involves certain forms and supporting documentation that must be lodged and the accompanied fees paid.

The steps

The first step in registering a new company is optional. A CoR9.1 form must be completed and lodged with the CIPC in order to reserve a name for the company to be registered. However, the Act does make provision for a company to be registered without a name. The company registration number will then be the name of the company until such time as the company properly registers a name. A certified copy of the identity document of the applicant must be submitted as supporting documentation with this form and a filing fee is payable.

The next step is to complete and lodge the CoR14.1 Notice of Incorporation form together with the CoR15.1 Memorandum of Incorporation.

The Notice of Incorporation specifically contains information regarding the type of company to be registered, the incorporation date, financial year end, registered address, number of directors and the company name if applicable. A certified copy of the identity document of the applicant must be submitted as supporting documentation and a filing fee is payable. A CoR14.1A form contains specific information about the directors of the company who will be appointed at registration, and this form must be lodged together with the Cor14.1. Certified copies of the identity documents of all directors to be appointed must be submitted as supporting documentation. An optional form CoR14.1D may be lodged together with the CoR14.1, which indicates any company appointments to be registered with the CIPC, such as a company secretary or auditor.

The Memorandum of Incorporation is probably the most important document when registering a company, since the provisions contained herein will govern the company. It can be short and simple, or long and extremely technical, depending on what type of company is being registered. In this regard, it is best to seek professional advice. The supporting documentation and filing fees applicable will depend on what type of Memorandum of Incorporation is being registered.

If an auditor or company secretary is appointed at registration as contained in the CoR14.1D, a CoR44 form must also be completed and submitted. No filing fee is payable for this form. An original acceptance letter and certified copy of the identity document of the auditor or company secretary must be submitted as supporting documentation.

The CoR21.1 Notice of Registered Address must be completed with the particulars of the registered address of the company. Again a certified copy of the identity document of the applicant must be submitted as supporting documentation, but no filing fee is payable.

Once all the necessary forms and supporting documentation has been submitted and applicable fees paid, the CIPC will issue a Registration Certificate form CoR14.3 if it is satisfied that all provisions in the Act has been satisfied.

Any changes to the information placed on record at the CIPC at the original registration of the company, must be registered without delay and on the proper forms and possible payment of applicable filing fees.

This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as legal or other professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact your legal adviser for specific and detailed advice. Errors and omissions excepted (E&OE)

Co-owning property with someone else: The ups and downs

Posted on by

A3BWhat is co-ownership?

Co-ownership is when one or more people jointly own the same property. In essence, it is when they legally share ownership without dividing the property into physical portions for their exclusive use. It is thus commonly referred to as co-ownership in undivided shares.

It is possible to agree that owners acquire the property in different shares; for instance, one person owns 70 percent and the other 30 percent of the single property. The different shares can be recorded and registered in the title deeds by the Deeds Office.

The benefits

On paper, it’s a great idea. For starters, the bond repayments and costs of maintaining the home are halved. However, there can be problems and although not every friendship or relationship is destined to disintegrate, there does often come a time when one of the parties involved wants to sell up and move on to bigger and better things.

The risks

If ownership is given to one or more purchasers, without stipulating in what shares they acquire the property, it is legally presumed that they acquired the property in equal shares.

The risks, the benefits and the obligations that flow from the property are shared in proportion to each person’s share of ownership in the property. For instance, one of the co-owners fails to contribute his share of the finances as initially agreed, resulting in creditors such as the bank or Body Corporate taking action to recover the shortfall.

Having an agreement

If two people own property together in undivided shares it is advisable to enter into an agreement which will regulate their rights and obligations if they should decide to go their own separate ways.

The practical difficulties that flow from the rights and duties of co-ownership are captured by the expression communio est mater rixarum or “co-ownership is the mother of disputes”. It is therefore important that, when the agreement the co-owners entered into does not help them solve disputes, certain remedies are available to them.

The agreement should address the following issues:

  1. In what proportion will the property be shared?
    .
  2. Who has the sole right to occupy the property?
    .
  3. Who will contribute what initial payments to acquire the property.
    .
  4. Who will contribute what amounts to the ongoing future costs and finances.
    .
  5. How the profits or losses will be split, should the property or a share be sold?
    .
  6. The sale of one party’s share must be restricted or regulated.
    .
  7. The right to draw funds out of the access bond must be regulated.
    .
  8. A breakdown of the relationship between the parties.
    .
  9. Death or incapacity of one of the parties.
    .
  10. Dispute resolution options before issuing summons.
    .
  11. Termination of the agreement.

References:

This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as legal or other professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact your legal adviser for specific and detailed advice. Errors and omissions excepted (E&OE)

Co-ownership of land

Posted on by
Reply

A1BThe word “co-ownership” in relation to land means that two or more persons own land simultaneously in undivided shares. A share in land does not represent, and may not be held to represent a defined portion of land. A co-owner who holds a share in land does not hold title to a defined piece of land even if by arrangement with his co-owners they might have agreed to give him occupation of a specific portion of land. The title he has is to an undivided share only, in the whole of the land, held in joint ownership. The portion he occupies is owned jointly by him and his co-owners in the whole thereof. If he should build a house on the portion he occupies, the house will be owned jointly.

When X, Y and Z are co-owners of a farm, they are not each entitled to a physical part of the farm but each of them has an undivided share in the whole of the farm. The shares will not always be equal. One person can have half a share while the other two can each have a twenty five percent share. However, co-ownership unfortunately often leads to disputes among the owners.

Co-operation between the co-owners

It is advisable that co-owners enter into an agreement which regulates the relationship between them. Unfortunately this agreement will have no bearing against third parties. The consent of all the co-owners is required when administrative decisions have to be made. No owner is entitled to change or improve the property without the consent of the other owners. All the owners have to agree to the use of the property, e.g. they have to agree to the chopping down of trees, the erection of a storage facility/building, or to let cattle graze in the field. If co-owners are not consulted they may request an interdict from the court. The court may even order that buildings that have been erected, be removed. However, in instances where the aim is to preserve the property, it is not always necessary to obtain the consent of the co-owners.

The profits and losses

All the co-owners must contribute proportionally to necessary and also useful expenses for the preservation of the property. Such expenses include taxes and expenses to maintain the property in good condition, but do not include luxury expenses. Losses and charges must be shared by the co-owners, except those attributable to negligence of one of the owners. As with expenses, fruits and profits must be divided amongst the co-owners according to each owner’s shareholding.

Alienation of a share

A co-owner may alienate his share or even bequeath it to his heirs, without the consent of the other owners, even against their will. A co-owner’s share may also be attached by the sheriff.

Use of the property

Each co-owner may use the property in accordance with his undivided share. He must, however, use it with due regard to the rights of the other co-owners. Each co-owner, his employees and guests are entitled to free entry to any part of the property, except if the co-owners have agreed that a portion of the property is reserved for the exclusive use of one co-owner.

Partition

Co-owners may decide to partition the property, usually if they cannot agree on the utilisation of the property. The property will then be divided physically in accordance with the value of the property and each owner’s share in it. When this is uneconomic, which is usually the case with a farm, the property can be awarded to one co-owner, but he must then compensate the other co-owners. The court may also order that the property be sold by public auction and the proceeds divided amongst the co-owners. There is strict statutory control over the subdivision of land and also the actual physical division and use of land, so that partition may not always be possible.

Co-ownership is an excellent vehicle to becoming an owner of a property that one otherwise might not be able to afford. However, be aware of the pitfalls, choose your co-owners wisely, and draw up an agreement to regulate payment of the bond and rates, the day-to-day expenses and house rules.

This newsletter is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as legal or other professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact your legal adviser for specific and detailed advice. E&OE (Errors and omissions excepted.)