Tell your conveyancer the water COC is booked - we work to transfer deadlines and communicate directly with agents when asked. Note: a new certificate is required for each transfer, and it stays valid for six months or until the installation is altered.
What the certificate actually covers
Cape Town's Water By-law requires an accredited plumber to certify specific things about the property's water installation before transfer. The schedule is precise, and these are the items we inspect and sign off:
The Schedule 4 checklist
The geyser installation complies with SANS standards - drip tray, vacuum breakers, safety valve and overflow all correctly installed and discharging safely.
No leaks anywhere in the installation - and the water meter stops registering when no water is drawn.
The meter reads when water is drawn, so consumption is billed accurately.
Rainwater and stormwater must not discharge into the sewer system.
The drinking-water supply is properly separated from any alternative supply - borehole, wellpoint, greywater or rainwater systems.
Honest inspections, honest quotes
We inspect against the by-law schedule - nothing invented, nothing padded. You get a clear pass/fail list with photos and a quote for only the failing items. Sellers have usually heard enough stories about certificate mills adding imaginary 'requirements'; we're the antidote.
How it works
Usually within a day or two.
Pass / fail against the by-law schedule, with photos and a repair quote.
Only what's needed to comply.
Sent to you and your conveyancer promptly.
Common questions
How fast can I get the certificate?
If the property passes, usually the same day as the inspection. With repairs, typically two to four days depending on scope - we work to your transfer timeline.
What fails most often?
Geyser installations (drip trays, vacuum breakers, overflow plumbing), stormwater tied into the sewer, and cross-connections from boreholes or greywater systems plumbed without proper separation.
Who may issue the certificate?
An accredited plumber - we're registered and issue City-accepted certificates. Remember it's per-transfer: a certificate from the previous sale can't be reused.