If you are selling a property in Cape Town, a Plumbing Certificate of Compliance is one of the boxes you will need to tick before transfer. Easy Fix Plumbers makes it painless: we inspect your plumbing, fix anything that does not comply, and issue a valid Plumbing COC — all handled by licensed, PIRB-registered plumbers who know exactly what the City of Cape Town looks for.
What is a Plumbing Certificate of Compliance?
A Plumbing Certificate of Compliance, usually shortened to a plumbing COC, is a document issued by a qualified plumber confirming that the water installation on a property meets the required standards and City of Cape Town by-laws. In simple terms, it certifies that your plumbing is safe, correctly installed and free of defects and leaks at the time of inspection. It is a plumbing-specific certificate and is separate from the electrical certificate of compliance.
When do you need a plumbing COC in Cape Town?
Under the City of Cape Town’s water by-law, a plumbing certificate of compliance is required when a property changes ownership. In practice that means when you sell your home, the conveyancing attorney handling the transfer will ask for a valid COC before the sale can go through. Because of that, it is usually the seller who arranges and pays for it.
Even if you are not selling, it is sensible to have your plumbing certified after major work — a new geyser, a bathroom renovation or a re-plumb — so you have documented proof the installation is compliant. It also gives you peace of mind that there are no hidden leaks quietly running up your water bill.
What a plumbing COC inspection covers
A proper COC inspection is more than a quick glance. We check the water installation across the property, including:
- The water meter — confirming it registers correctly and there is no continuous flow when everything is closed, which would indicate a leak.
- Leaks throughout the installation, since the property must be free of water leaks to comply.
- The geyser installation — that it has the correct safety and pressure valves, vacuum breakers, a drip tray and a properly routed overflow.
- Pipework and fittings — that they are sound, correctly installed and of an approved type.
- Hot water safety — that the installation delivers water at a safe temperature and pressure.
- Drainage and cross-connections — that stormwater and sewerage are not incorrectly connected, and that gullies and overflows discharge correctly.
- Terminal water fittings — that taps, mixers and outlets work as they should without leaking.
Once everything checks out, we issue the certificate.
Common issues that fail a COC — and that we fix
It is very common for an inspection to turn up a few items that need attention before a certificate can be issued. The good news is that we can usually repair them on the spot or shortly after. The most frequent culprits we see in Cape Town homes are:
- A geyser missing the correct safety fittings, or with an overflow that is not routed to a visible discharge point.
- Hidden leaks showing up on the meter test.
- Dripping taps, mixers or toilet valves.
- Stormwater incorrectly connected to the sewer system.
- Old or non-compliant pipework and fittings.
- An overflow or gully that does not discharge correctly.
We will always tell you clearly what has failed and what it will cost to put right, so there are no surprises.
Our COC process
We have made getting a plumbing COC as straightforward as possible:
- 1. Book an inspection. Send your address through the form and we will arrange a convenient time.
- 2. We inspect and report. A licensed plumber assesses the full water installation and tells you exactly where you stand.
- 3. We quote any repairs. If something needs fixing, you get a clear, upfront price to approve first.
- 4. We carry out the work. We put right whatever is needed to bring the installation up to standard.
- 5. We issue your COC. Once everything complies, we issue the valid certificate for your transfer.
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
The inspection itself is usually done in a single visit. How quickly you get the certificate then depends on whether any repairs are needed — a clean installation can be certified straight away, while a home needing a few fixes takes a little longer. On cost, the inspection is a set fee and any repairs are quoted separately and upfront, so you always approve the price before we do the work. We never inflate repairs just because a sale is on the line.
Why choose Easy Fix for your COC
- Licensed, PIRB-registered plumbers who issue valid, recognised certificates.
- Honest inspections — we certify what complies and clearly explain what does not.
- Repairs done properly so your certificate reflects genuinely compliant work.
- Fast turnaround to keep your property transfer on track.
Areas we serve
We issue plumbing COCs across Cape Town and the northern suburbs, including Cape Town, Bellville, Durbanville, Milnerton and Table View, plus the surrounding areas. Add your address to the booking form and we will confirm we can reach you.
How a plumbing COC differs from other certificates
When a property is sold, several compliance certificates can come into play, and it is easy to get them confused. The plumbing COC deals specifically with the water installation — pipes, geyser, taps, drainage and leaks. It is separate from the electrical certificate of compliance, the gas certificate for any installed gas appliances, and other checks such as electric fence or beetle certificates. We handle the plumbing side; your estate agent or attorney will usually guide you on which of the others apply to your property. Keeping the plumbing certificate in expert hands means that part of the sale is one less thing to worry about.
Why a compliant geyser matters for your COC
Geysers are behind a large share of COC repairs. A geyser installed without the correct safety valve, pressure-control valve, vacuum breakers, drip tray or a properly routed overflow will not pass — and these are exactly the details a thorough inspection picks up. If your geyser was installed some time ago or by someone who cut corners, it may need bringing up to standard before certification. Because we handle geyser installations and repairs ourselves, we can inspect and correct the geyser in the same process, rather than sending you to a second contractor.
How to prepare your home for a COC inspection
A little preparation helps the inspection go smoothly and can reduce the chance of surprises:
- Clear access to the geyser, water meter, gullies and any drain covers.
- Fix obvious drips at taps and toilets beforehand if you can, or let us handle them on the day.
- Note any known issues — a slow drain, a patch of damp, low pressure — so we can check them properly.
- Locate your main stopcock and make sure it is accessible.
Do not worry about getting everything perfect — that is our job. The more we can see, though, the faster we can certify.
Keep your property transfer on track
Nothing holds up a sale quite like a certificate that arrives late. Property transfers run on tight timelines, and a delayed or failed COC can push out registration and frustrate everyone involved. By booking your inspection early — rather than at the last minute — you give yourself room to sort out any repairs comfortably before transfer. If you are already under time pressure, tell us, and we will do our best to prioritise your inspection and certificate so your sale stays on schedule.
Book your COC inspection
Selling and need a certificate quickly? Complete the booking form at the top of this page with your address and we will arrange your inspection. While you are here, you might also want to look at our geyser services — a compliant geyser is one of the most common COC requirements — or our emergency plumbing if something needs urgent attention.