A Somerset couple has hauled Pam Golding Properties to court, seeking more than R500 000 in damages over structural defects to a property they purchased nearly 10 years ago.

The Cape Times reports that the amount includes R604000 to fix undisclosed damages they found and R19700 for storage of their furniture while remedial work was done, as well as finding alternative accommodation for a year.

They alleged that during the viewing of the house, the estate agent reassured them that the cracks in the walls of the house were regular hairline settlement cracks which were normal for properties of that age.

The prospective owners added that she told them: ‘This house has stood for 27 years and is going nowhere.’

The house was sold to Antoné van Heerden and Schalk Pienaar in October 2017 for R1.6m.

The plaintiffs' attorney, Trudie Broekmann, said: ‘After taking occupation, the couple, after enlisting the services of a structural engineer, detected severe structural defects in the house.’ 

The structural engineer Albert Coetzee said in his report that this was due to a problem with the compaction of the foundation.

Pam Golding Properties maintained that the claim was without merit and that any defects were disclosed.

‘The advertisement published by Pam Golding Properties clearly showed that the dwelling itself presented serious defects and required remedial work. The selling price, however, was less than that of a vacant stand in the area at the time, and the purchasers were informed that they were actually buying the potential of developing the well-positioned large stand with exceptional views,’ said Pam Golding Properties.

The case is expected to continue in the Western Cape High court until Thursday.

Full Cape Times report