BFFs no More: The Verbal Agreement That Cost R1 Million
Not everyone knows that the verbal agreements we make every day are, with very few exceptions, every bit as valid and enforceable as formal written contracts. We’ll discuss the dangers of that with reference to a recent High Court fight between two ex-friends over a R1m payment made by one of them to the other’s […]
Leases, contracts and COVID-19: What is Force Majeure?
The COVID-19 crisis has changed everything. Our personal lives have been upended and our businesses hit hard. And with many businesses operating out of leased premises, a great many landlords and tenants are asking themselves what happens if the crisis leaves a tenant unable to pay the agreed rental. What follows is of necessity a […]
Your written contract should cover everything – No oral evidence allowed!
Here’s another warning from our courts to make sure that all your contracts are properly drawn to reflect both accurately and fully what you have agreed to. The problem with leaving anything out – or agreeing to something that isn’t then fully recorded in your contract – is a principle in our law known as […]
CONTRACTS: LEAVE NO SHADOW OF A DOUBT
Contracts should always contain a “non-variation” clause providing that no variation of the agreement is of any force or effect unless it is in writing and is signed by all parties. A recent High Court case resulting from a property dispute shows why. Landlord v Tenant: The restaurant that fell on hard times ….. A […]