To disclose, or not to disclose

If a snake keeps coming back to your house, do you have to tell the buyer?

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SOUTH AFRICANS love a good wildlife story-and recently, a video of a black python slithering into someone's home sent social media into a frenzy. The comments were gold: "Move out!" "Burn the house down!" "This is why I rent." However, as funny as the reactions were, the story actually brings up a real question for homeowners. If something like this keeps happening, do you have to disclose it when you sell your home? The short answer? Probably yes. The longer answer? Let's unpack it.

Disclosure isn't just for cracks and leaks Most homeowners know they must disclose things like rising damp, roof leaks, electrical issues, or structural cracksbut South African law actually goes a bit further.

You must tell a buyer about anything you know that could reasonably affect their decision to buy-including environmental or wildlife-related issues. Disclosure isn't only about the condition of the building.

If there's something unusual about the property that a buyer would want to know-including visits from wildlife-the seller has a responsibility to mention it.

However, that doesn't mean one spider or a once-off frog in the bathroom.

We're talking patterns.