New ERA Fees for Heritage Assessments and Letter and Endorsement of Building Plans on behalf of the Lourens Geldenhuys Family – effective 1 June 2022

17 MAY 2022

Background

These fees have not been increased since 2019.  (For more details about the background to these fees and what you need to do if you want to alter your house see here: https://era.org.za/building-and-renovations/  

ERA charges fees for two services to residents:

1. Heritage assessments
2. Endorsing building plans

1. Heritage assessments

The Provincial Heritage Authority of Gauteng (PHRAG) requires a letter from the Residents’ Association as part of the submission by an applicant for heritage authority (for buildings over 60 years’ old).  ERA undertakes a full assessment, a site visit, scrutiny of all documents and prepares such a letter with a recommendation. When an application involves a demolition, greater care, research and advice is sought before making a recommendation.

Heritage Letter Fees

Item	Previous (2019)	New Fee* – Non-ERA member	New Fee* – ERA member
Letter for plans amendment – house over 60 years old	R900	R1 500	R1 200
Letter for demolition of house over 60 years’ old	R900	R1 800	R1 500

2. Endorsing building plans as per the Lourens Geldenhuys Family (LGF) title deed conditions

Due to clauses in the title deeds of all Emmarentia properties and because the ERA acts on behalf of the LGF, a fee is charged for the endorsement.  It involves assessing the new plans, engaging with the architects and negotiating with them when the design is not compliant with the title deed conditions. This process can be time consuming and physically endorsing on three sets of plans also takes time. The City of Johannesburg will not approve your building plans without this endorsement.

The fees are an important income for ERA and the building plan fees are shared with the Lourens Geldenhuys Family, ERA and the person that does the actual work.

Building Plans Fees

	Item	Previous Fee (2019)	New Fee* effective 1 June 2022
			10% increase
1.	Building plans (m2)	Rands
	0 – 49	1 250	1 400
	50 – 99	1 500	1 800
	100 – 149	1 750	1 925
	150 – 199	2 000	2 200
	200 – 250	n/a	2 475
	Over 250	2 500	2 750
2.	New builds
	New house	2 750	3 000
	New townhouses per unit (Res 2, 3)	1 200	1 325
	New apartments (Res 4)	n/a	1 200
3.	Removal of restrictions
	Per restrictive title clause	n/a	1 000

If you are a paid-up ERA member you will get a 5% discount on the above Building Plans fees.

See https://era.org.za/join-era/ to find out how you can become an ERA member.

* Fees effective 1 June 2022; subject to review.