Human Settlement

Welcome to New Homeowners

By Super User 893

You have received the exciting news that your new property has been registered in your name, but now you must figure out the process of municipal account registration. It is not a complicated process if you know what to expect and what steps to take.

As the owner of a newly registered property, you will be required to pay rates and taxes. Every customer must have their own rates and taxes and services (electricity, water and sanitation, refuse) account; you cannot inherit an existing account from a previous owner. Accounts are issued on a monthly basis.

Once your property has been registered you will receive notification from the conveyancer that the property is registered in your name, usually in the form of a letter, after which you need to open a municipal account.

This is done by visiting your nearest customer care centre and completing the “Application for the Supply of Water and Electricity “contract. A list of all the customer care centres is available on the City’s website – https://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/residents/customer-care-centres.html

A new homeowner is responsible for ensuring that all services are linked and recorded under their name.

When opening an account make sure you have the following:

Information required in respect of new consumer agreements:

  • Street address
  • Stand number
  • Meter number
  • Owner or tenant (to apply deposit tariff)

Documentation needed:

  • ID
  • Proof of ownership, eg deed of transfer
  • Electricity compliance certificate

Third party

If you are unable to go through and open the account yourself, you can provide a third party with a letter of authorisation giving them permission to sign the agreement for services on the owner’s behalf. A copy of the owner’s ID must be attached to the letter and the third party must also provide their ID.

Opening an account for a business

If you are opening an account for a business you will need the following:

  • Registration document of the company
  • ID of responsible person 
  • Proof of ownership eg deed of transfer
  • Electricity compliance certificate

Third party

If you are unable to go through and open the account yourself, you can provide a third party with a letter of authorisation giving them permission to sign the agreement for services on the owner’s behalf. A copy of the owner’s ID must be attached to the letter and the third party must also provide their ID.

Opening an account for a business

If you are opening an account for a business you will need the following:

  • Registration document of the company
  • ID of responsible person 
  • Proof of ownership eg deed of transfer
  • Electricity compliance certificate

Renting a property

If you are a tenant and are leasing a property, you need the following:

  • Legal lease agreement
  • Written permission from the owner/agent

Body Corporate:

A body corporate will need a letter from the trustee as well as the body corporate resolution and the ID of the responsible person.