The Property Practitioners Act 22 of 2019 lists, among its objects, the protection of the consumer. Property practitioners therefore have a duty to uphold and protect consumers’ interests, and a central part of that duty is maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct.
The purpose of the Code
The Code of Conduct issued by the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) is designed to help practitioners meet that standard. It is a reliable and instructive guide, but the obligations it sets out are only the minimum standards of professional conduct expected of the profession. Practitioners are encouraged to aspire to the highest standards of integrity, honour and competence, whether or not those standards are formally addressed in the Code.
The Act requires every property practitioner to be able to provide a consumer with a copy of the Code on request. The PPRA has reproduced the Code to make it easy for practitioners to comply.
From the preamble
Consumers require assistance when conducting property transactions, and property practitioners can play an important role in providing such assistance.
The preamble goes on to state that such assistance must be rendered in a professional way, and that it is necessary to regulate circumstances where it is not.
Who does it apply to?
The Code of Conduct applies to all property practitioners as defined in section 1 of the Property Practitioners Act.