SBL Incorporated

04/09/2026

Did your tenant sign a lease and then change their mind? 👀

A tenant cannot simply rely on the Consumer Protection Act’s cooling-off period to cancel a lease agreement.

Why? Because the CPA’s cooling-off period applies where an agreement resulted from direct marketing; and a tenant who applies for a property was, in most cases, not targeted through direct marketing in the first place.

In this video, Cilna Steyn explains why the often-quoted “5-business-day cooling-off period” does not give tenants a general right to walk away from a signed lease.

02/09/2026

A very Happy Administrative Day to our amazing admin team! 🧡✨

Cindy, Dipuo, Regina, Madika, Wendy, Ashley, Roma and Patrick - thank you for all the big things, the little things, the behind-the-scenes things, and especially the things the rest of us don’t even realise you’re doing. 😅

SBL simply wouldn’t run the same without you. Thank you for your dedication, patience, support and for keeping us all on track every day.

Today we celebrate you! 🥂🧡

01/09/2026

A very happy birthday to our Financial Director, Nicholas Brodie! 🥳🎉

Nicholas, we wish you a wonderful year ahead filled with happiness, success and all the good things life has to offer. May you have a very special day and a truly blessed year ahead! 🎂

30/08/2026

Business Continuity When a Business Owner or Shareholder Passes Away 💼

https://youtu.be/EuxQi9xbPHk?si=k-H7mgyybDG4j2jV

In this episode of PLA, Bruno Miguel Simao of Bruno Simao Attorneys and Nicholas Brodie of SBL Incorporated discuss an important issue that many business owners overlook: business continuity.

What happens to your business if you suddenly become seriously ill, incapacitated, insolvent, disabled, or pass away?

A business should not depend entirely on one person. If all operational decisions, banking authorisations and approvals rely on one individual, the business may come to a standstill when that person is no longer able to perform their role.

🎥 Watch this episode to learn more about business continuity, deceased shareholders and protecting your business for the future.

28/08/2026

Can your tenant list your property on Airbnb without your permission? 🔑

Not necessarily... and in many cases, absolutely not.

Short-term rentals such as Airbnb generally amount to subletting, and if the lease agreement prohibits subletting without the landlord’s consent, the tenant cannot simply rent the property out to holidaymakers, business travellers or other short-term guests. 🏖️

In this week’s video, Cilna explains why landlords are entitled to place clear restrictions on subletting, including short-term rentals.

🎥 Watch the video for the quick explanation.

25/08/2026

Some people quietly make their mark… and then there’s Keitumetse - with the big smile, the laughter, the stories, the personality, the occasional chaos 😂 and a whole lot of heart. ♥️

Now, we get to celebrate a very special milestone: Keitumetse is officially an admitted Attorney! ⚖️✨

Keitu, your journey with SBL has been filled with learning, growth, deadlines, drafting (and drafting again 😅), plenty of laughs, and so many memorable moments along the way. You have never just been a Candidate Attorney in our team - you’ve brought warmth, energy and character into the office from day one.

Watching you grow into the Attorney you are today has been incredibly special, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate this moment with you.

Candidate Attorney officially signed out. Attorney Keitumetse officially signed in. 🥂♥️

Congratulations, Keitu! Here’s to many, many more wonderful moments ahead.

23/08/2026

What Happens to a Managing Agent’s Mandate When the Landlord Dies?

https://youtu.be/Mo456iFJLRw?si=KkvKTeNLl4ZGMzGi

In this episode of PLA, Bruno Miguel Simao of Bruno Simao Attorneys and Nicholas Brodie of SBL Incorporated discuss an important question concerning lease agreements, managing agents, and the death of a landlord.

📌 The Question

We know that the death of a landlord does not automatically terminate a lease agreement. The tenant generally remains bound by the lease, and the deceased landlord's estate steps into the position of the landlord.

But what happens to the managing agent who was appointed by the landlord to manage the property?

Does the managing agent's mandate continue after the landlord's death, or not?

Watch this week's PLA episode for the answer. 📹️

In this episode [259/2], Bruno Miguel Simao of Bruno Simao Attorney...

22/08/2026

Non-paying tenant? Your thought: "Just cut their electricity." ❌

Switching off the electricity or water might feel like the quickest way to get their attention… but legally, it can land the landlord in trouble. 👀

Cutting utilities or restricting access to the property can amount to spoliation, and the tenant may approach the court or Rental Housing Tribunal urgently to have access restored.

So what should a landlord do instead?

📹 Cilna explains the correct process in this video. Have a listen and let us know if you have any questions.

19/08/2026

If you’re a business owner renting commercial premises 💼 or a landlord leasing space to a business 🏢, this is one conversation worth listening to.

What happens if rent isn’t paid? Can a landlord lock a business out? Who pays for improvements? Can rent simply be increased? And what clauses could leave you stuck in a lease for years?

Our Associate Attorney, Alison Laxton, joined Kwena Moabelo on Power 98.7 to unpack the commercial lease issues that can become very expensive when they’re only discovered after the agreement has been signed.

🎙️ Listen to the full interview here:

Commercial leases can have serious consequences for both landlords ...

16/08/2026

Can a Landlord Charge Tenants for Water, Sewerage & Other Property Costs?

https://youtu.be/zeQ3grjo-QA?si=e7jqPjhEBgjMc4yO

In this episode of PLA, Bruno Miguel Simao of Bruno Simao Attorneys and Nicholas Brodie of SBL Incorporated discuss an important question from a landlord:

Can a landlord charge a tenant fixed basic charges for water and sewerage following the recent High Court judgment declaring certain charges unconstitutional?

Bruno unpacks the complexities surrounding rental charges in residential and commercial leases, including:

🔸 What can landlords legally charge tenants?
🔸 The difference between residential and commercial leasing
🔸 Fixed charges vs. charges based on actual consumption
🔸 Prepaid electricity and water meters
🔸 How common-area electricity costs can be allocated
🔸 Property rates and whether these should be charged separately
🔸 Waste removal and sanitation charges
🔸 The difference between costs associated with occupation and those associated with ownership
🔸 Why the wording of the lease agreement is so important
🔸 What landlords should consider when introducing additional levies or charges

The discussion highlights the importance of distinguishing between actual consumption costs, property ownership costs and rental costs, and why landlords should carefully consider how these costs are structured in their lease agreements.

In this episode [258/1], Bruno Miguel Simao of Bruno Simao Attorney...