Do I need a plumbing COC to sell my house in Cape Town?

Short answer: yes. If you are selling a property in Cape Town, the City Water By-law requires a plumbing certificate of compliance before transfer. It is a separate document from the electrical COC, and one does not stand in for the other.

The longer answer is about timing, because that is where sellers lose money.

What the inspection actually covers

A qualified plumber inspects the property and certifies that:

• the water installation conforms to the national building regulations and the City by-law;
• there is no discharge of water onto a neighbouring property;
• there is no cross-connection between the potable supply and any other source — borehole, wellpoint or grey water;
• the geyser installation complies, including the drip tray and overflow;
• the water meter registers correctly and there is no leak on the property.

What usually needs fixing

Almost nothing exotic. A geyser with no drip tray, or an overflow that discharges into the roof instead of outside. A borehole or wellpoint tied into the household supply without proper separation. A slow leak that the meter test picks up. Older properties turn up more of this than newer ones — which is exactly why an old house is the wrong place to leave the inspection until the last week.

Why late booking costs you

Book the inspection when the sale is agreed and any corrections get done calmly, quoted properly, at a normal rate. Book it the week before transfer and every correction becomes urgent — with a conveyancer, an estate agent and a buyer all waiting on it. Urgency is the most expensive thing you can add to a plumbing job.

How we do it

We inspect, tell you plainly what needs correcting and what does not, quote the corrections in writing, do the work, and issue the certificate. One team, one accountable invoice — you are not chasing a separate inspector and a separate plumber who disagree with each other.