09/10/2026
𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
A large residential stand in one of Johannesburg’s older suburbs can look like an opportunity waiting to be unlocked. An owner might think of subdividing it into two or three properties, for example, and selling the surplus ones. Alternatively, they might consider rezoning a property situated on a major road and converting it into offices or a professional practice, especially if it can accommodate lots of off-road parking.
However, says FIRZT Property Group CEO Denese Zaslansky, owners and prospective buyers shouldn’t just assume that the development potential of a large stand will translate into easy profits. “There are many homes with very large grounds in older suburbs such as Bryanston, Hyde Park, Killarney and Saxonwold, where there are also no restrictions on subdivision in terms of the 2019 Spatial Development Plan for Johannesburg.
“And because many owners don’t want the inconvenience and expense of maintaining a large property any more, we are often asked what the prospects are for selling off some of their land. Our answer to that is that they should first find out whether the local authority has the capacity to service any new stands in their area, and then also investigate the costs of subdivision very carefully, because these can run into hundreds of thousands of rands.”
According to Craig Pretorius of Urban Terrain Town Planning, the first step for a residential subdivision is the preparation and submission of a consent-use application to the local authority. Once consent has been granted, though, it is likely that a number of professionals and processes will be required to ensure compliance with the conditions of approval.
“You will probably need to involve a town planner, a land surveyor to resurvey the property and register all the new boundaries with the Surveyor-General in Pretoria, and a conveyancer to deal with changes to the original title deed and the registration of any new stands at the Deeds Office...
Click the link to read more: https://www.firzt.co.za/news/know-the-cost-before-you-think-of-subdividing-or-rezoning/