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Compliance certificates
Plumbing certificates of compliance (COC) for property transfers
ProSol inspects plumbing installations, fixes what fails, and issues the plumbing certificate of compliance a property transfer needs. Whether the municipality requires one depends on where the house is: the City of Cape Town and Drakenstein do; Stellenbosch Municipality does not, although buyers and banks often ask for one anyway.
- Since 2013
- PIRB registered · COCs issued
- 5.0 from 21 Google reviews
- 24-hour emergency call-outs
- Free written estimates
Does my municipality require a plumbing COC on transfer?
It depends on the municipality the property is in:
| Area | Municipality | COC required before transfer? |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset West, Strand, Gordon’s Bay, Kuils River, Brackenfell | City of Cape Town | Yes. Water By-law, 2010, section 14(1): the seller must submit a certificate of compliance from a registered plumber before transfer. |
| Paarl, Wellington | Drakenstein | Yes. Water and Sanitation Services By-law, 2023, section 99A: the seller must obtain a certificate of compliance before transfer. |
| Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Klapmuts | Stellenbosch | Not by the by-law. The Water Services By-law, 2017 has no transfer clause, but the sale agreement, the buyer or the bank may still require one. |
Read your offer to purchase: if it makes a plumbing certificate a condition, you need one regardless of the by-law.
The plumbing COC checklist: what the inspection checks
We check the whole water installation, not only the geyser:
- The water meter stands still with every tap closed, so there is no hidden leak
- The geyser installation against SANS 10254: drip tray, T&P valve and discharge, vacuum breakers, pressure control valve, mounting
- Taps, mixers, toilets and pipework for leaks and damage
- That stormwater and rainwater do not run into the sewer
- That the installation is fed and protected as the by-law requires
How it works
- You book the inspection; we need access to the meter, the geyser and every wet area.
- If everything passes, we issue the certificate.
- If something fails, you get a written list of what and why, with a quote to fix it. Once the repairs are done, we re-check and issue the certificate.
Who can issue one
A plumbing certificate of compliance is issued by the plumber who did the inspection or the work, through the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB). PIRB says only a licensed plumber may buy and issue one, and the owner must receive it within five working days. ProSol is PIRB registered and issues its certificates through PIRB.
Questions people ask
Do I need a plumbing COC to sell my house in Stellenbosch?
Not by law: the Stellenbosch Water Services By-law (2017) has no certificate-on-transfer requirement. Many offers to purchase still include one as a condition, so check yours.
Do I need a plumbing COC to sell in Somerset West or Paarl?
Yes. Somerset West falls under the City of Cape Town, whose Water By-law (section 14(1)) requires one before transfer, and Paarl falls under Drakenstein, whose 2023 by-law (section 99A) does too.
What usually fails a plumbing COC?
The most common failures are geyser installations missing a drip tray, vacuum breakers or a correctly run T&P discharge pipe, leaking taps or toilets, and stormwater connected to the sewer.
Do I need a COC for a new geyser?
Yes. PIRB requires a plumbing certificate of compliance whenever an electric geyser is installed, repaired or replaced, whatever the job costs, and for every solar or heat pump water heater installed. The plumber must give it to the owner within five working days.
Who pays for the plumbing COC?
Where the by-law requires it, the seller must provide it, so the seller usually pays. The sale agreement can say otherwise.
Related
- Geyser repair and replacementBurst or failing geyser in Stellenbosch, Somerset West or Paarl? ProSol repairs and replaces geysers to SANS 10254, with the certificate your insurer asks for.
- Bathroom renovationBathroom and kitchen renovations in Stellenbosch, Somerset West and Paarl, with the plumbing behind the walls done by plumbers, not a general builder.
- Emergency plumbingBurst pipe, burst geyser or a leak you cannot stop in Stellenbosch, Somerset West or Paarl? ProSol takes emergency call-outs 24/7. Call 081 559 2180.
Where we do this
What customers say
“During the huge April 2024 storm in Stellenbosch, I phoned Malan at Prosol on Sunday morning. I had thought with so many houses damaged here, it would be nearly impossible to get help at short notice. By 10 am his two men were here.”
“Prosol plumbing is very proffesional, efficient and cares about their ckients. They are very reliable and the staff is very patient and pay attention to detail.”
“Malan & his Prosol team were commented as being very professional and efficient with the geyser install at Consol Shop Stellenbosch.”
Tell us what’s wrong. We’ll tell you what it takes.
Phone for anything urgent, at any hour. Otherwise send a photo and a few words on WhatsApp, and Malan comes back to you with what it needs. Planned work gets a free written estimate before we start.