Gustav Barkhuysen Attorneys

Gustav Barkhuysen Attorneys GB Law is a boutique Law Firm focusing on a personal client service and delivery. Our clients are our first priority.

You’ve just put in an offer on a house. 🏡 The OTP is signed, you’re already planning the renovations… and then you find ...
31/08/2026

You’ve just put in an offer on a house. 🏡 The OTP is signed, you’re already planning the renovations… and then you find your dream home. 😍

Can you simply walk away from the first deal?

Not necessarily.

Here’s what you need to know:

🟢 BEFORE BOTH PARTIES SIGN THE OTP
You can generally still change your mind.

🟢 SUSPENSIVE CONDITIONS
If your OTP is subject to conditions, such as obtaining a bond within a specified period, and that condition isn’t fulfilled in time, the agreement may become null and void without penalty. But miss a deadline and you could face breach consequences.

🟡 COOLING-OFF PERIOD
The Consumer Protection Act provides a five-day cooling-off period for certain property purchases resulting from direct marketing. This generally does NOT apply to typical private or estate-agent-mediated sales.

🔴 OTP SIGNED + NO VALID REASON TO CANCEL
Simply finding a better house doesn’t mean you can walk away. You could be in breach and face:

• Loss of your deposit or liquidated damages
• Claims for further losses
• Legal and bond-related costs
• Potential estate agent commission claims

🛑 NO EASY WAY BACK
If there’s no valid cancellation clause, unfulfilled suspensive condition or mutual agreement to cancel, you can’t simply change your mind.

The safest move? Speak to your attorney or conveyancer BEFORE signing another offer or attempting to cancel the first one.

Get in touch with GB Law
🌐 gblaw.capetown
📩 [email protected]
☎️ +27 (0)21 180 3532

29/08/2026

Renovating your home? Don’t let the excitement of a new kitchen, bathroom or extension leave you with an insurance headache. 🏡🔨

Before the renovations begin, there are a few important questions to ask:

✔️ Does your current policy cover the work?
✔️ Does your contractor have the right insurance?
✔️ Do you need Contractors All Risk (CAR) cover?
✔️ Has your insurer been notified?

A quick conversation with your insurer or broker before work starts could save you from a very expensive surprise later.

🏠 Read the full article on the GB LAW blog:
👉 https://bit.ly/4527Ml4

Where should you be investing in the Western Cape? 👀We’ve rounded up the suburbs showing strong rental potential, long-t...
28/08/2026

Where should you be investing in the Western Cape? 👀

We’ve rounded up the suburbs showing strong rental potential, long-term capital growth, and those offering that sweet spot of both. 📈🏡

Some suburbs deliver stronger rental returns.
Some offer better long-term growth.
And some give you the best of both worlds.

Swipe to see which suburbs made the list, and save this for your next property deep dive. 🔖👉

So, you’ve purchased a property inside of a security estate and you’re thinking about joining the board of trustees. Bef...
27/08/2026

So, you’ve purchased a property inside of a security estate and you’re thinking about joining the board of trustees. Before you put your hand up, here are a few things to know:

1. Trustees don’t necessarily have to be owners.
2. An odd number of trustees can help avoid deadlocks.
3. Conflicts of interest can affect whether a trustee may participate in a decision.
4. Certain circumstances can disqualify someone from serving.
5. If all trustees resign, the body corporate has options.

Being a trustee is about more than having a say. It comes with responsibilities, accountability and important legal considerations.

Want to know what those are? Read our full blog post for everything you need to know before accepting a nomination. https://bit.ly/4xbMqfL

26/08/2026

When relationships end, the lease doesn’t automatically end with them.

A breakup can bring plenty of change, but if the paperwork isn’t updated, financial and legal obligations can follow long after one person has moved out.

DO: Update the lease as soon as living arrangements change. If your name is still on the agreement, you could remain liable for rent and other obligations.

DON’T: Assume an informal agreement between former partners is enough. If one person moves out and another stays behind, the lease should reflect the new arrangement.

For landlords, tenants and property owners alike, keeping agreements up to date can prevent unnecessary disputes and costly complications later.

When relationships change, the paperwork should too.
👉 https://bit.ly/4qJhG48

National Wills Week takes place from 14 to 18 September 2026, giving members of the public the opportunity to have a bas...
26/08/2026

National Wills Week takes place from 14 to 18 September 2026, giving members of the public the opportunity to have a basic will drafted free of charge by participating attorneys.

Whether you are drafting a will for the first time or simply need trusted legal guidance around your estate planning, GB Law is here to help.

Because peace of mind starts with having your affairs in order.

Speak to GB Law, your trusted legal partner, for professional guidance you can rely on.

FUTURE-PROOFING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 🏢Uncertainty is part of the investment landscape. The savvy move? Build a property p...
17/08/2026

FUTURE-PROOFING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY 🏢

Uncertainty is part of the investment landscape. The savvy move? Build a property portfolio that can adapt to it.

Here are 5 ways to future-proof your commercial property investment:

1. Choose resilient locations
Look beyond the postcode. Infrastructure, accessibility, municipal performance and proximity to strong economic nodes all matter.

2. Protect your rental income
Strong tenants, thorough screening and a diversified tenant mix can help reduce vacancy and income risk.

3. Invest in adaptable spaces
Flexible layouts and spaces that can evolve with changing business needs can help keep an asset relevant for longer.

4. Build energy & operational resilience
Solar, backup power, water security and energy-efficient systems can reduce costs while making your property more attractive to quality tenants.

5. Protect your cash flow
Stress-test your investment against vacancies, rising costs, tenant defaults and interest-rate pressure. Resilience starts with having room to weather the unexpected.

In 2026, the strongest commercial property investments are increasingly being defined by resilience, adaptability, income security and location quality.

💬 Savvy real estate owners, what would YOU add to this list?

Share your property future-proofing strategy in the comments. Your insight could help another investor make a smarter move.

Who Inherits If You Have No Will and No Spouse?If you die without a valid will, you don’t get to decide who inherits you...
13/08/2026

Who Inherits If You Have No Will and No Spouse?

If you die without a valid will, you don’t get to decide who inherits your estate. The law does.

Under South Africa’s Intestate Succession Act, the order generally works like this:

1️⃣ Children and other descendants
2️⃣ Parents
3️⃣ Siblings and their descendants
4️⃣ More distant blood relatives
5️⃣ The State, only as a last resort

But intestate succession is a fixed legal formula. It doesn’t take into account your wishes, your family dynamics, who you want to provide for, or how you want your assets protected.

And with recent changes to the definition of “spouse”, even an unmarried life partner may potentially qualify to inherit.

The simple solution? Have a valid, up-to-date will that clearly sets out your wishes.

If you don’t have a will, or yours is no longer up to date, don’t put it off. Contact GB Law today to make an appointment and get your will in place.

Monday to Friday
09h00 – 16h00

Contact
[email protected]
+27 (0)21 180 3532

10/08/2026

Happy National Women’s Day! ❤️

To the women excelling in every area of life, from creating loving and nurturing home environments to making their mark in the workplace and everything in between, we see you, we celebrate you, and we appreciate you.

You truly do it all, and we simply couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for all that you do. 🌸

From all of us at GB Law, Happy Women’s Day!

Can your landlord legally increase your rent by 28%?Surprisingly, yes.Contrary to popular belief, South African law does...
06/08/2026

Can your landlord legally increase your rent by 28%?

Surprisingly, yes.

Contrary to popular belief, South African law doesn't set a maximum percentage for rental increases. That means a 28% increase isn't automatically illegal, just as a 6% increase isn't automatically fair.

So what does the law look at?

The answer is simple: whether the increase is reasonable.

The Rental Housing Tribunal considers factors like:
• Current market-related rental values
• Comparable properties in the area
• Improvements made to the property
• Whether the increase can be objectively justified

Whether you're a landlord or a tenant, understanding your rights can help you avoid unnecessary disputes.

Read our latest blog to learn when a rental increase may be considered unfair, and what the Rental Housing Tribunal takes into account before making a decision.

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4q0zMy5

Address

V&A Waterfront & Noordhoek Farm Village
Cape Town
8001

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 16:00

Telephone

+27211803532

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