Property Clients? Here's What the PPA Means for Your Fees, Time, and Risk

25 Jul

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If you’ve got even one client in property — managing, letting, auctioning, or brokering — this affects you.

The Property Practitioners Act (PPA) is serious about compliance. And now, so must we be.

3 Questions to Ask Every Property Client

✅ Do you handle trust money?

✅ Is turnover above R2.5 million?

✅ Are your financials audited or independently reviewed?

Most clients don’t know. But if you do, that’s your edge.

Here's Where the Money and Risk Sit

Turnover < R2.5m?

Business accounts → Independent Review (you can do this)
Trust accounts → Mandatory audit (needs auditor)

Turnover ≥ R2.5m?

Both business and trust accounts → Full audit

Never handled trust funds?

Exemption possible — but they must apply with a sworn affidavit

What They’re Getting Wrong (and How to Charge for It)

Thinking an old trust account doesn’t need closing audit reports
Assuming exemption applies before PPRA confirms it
Using unaccredited payment portals and failing compliance
Not reconciling trust accounts monthly (red flag for PPRA)

Each mistake = billable review, correction, and reporting. That’s your opportunity.

What You Must Know to Stay Covered

Only auditors can audit trust accounts
You (as a CIBA member) can perform Independent Reviews for exempt clients
You must flag irregularities under the Auditing Profession Act

Action Plan: What I Do with My Clients

I ask those 3 questions above, every year
I track PPRA updates monthly — they do change the rules
I submit affidavits and audit reports early — not at the deadline
I price in the risk and complexity — this is specialist work

Want to grow your practice with property compliance services?

Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn trust account reviews into billable income streams — with tools, checklists, and peer support.

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