Attacq Limited (“Attacq”), The South African-based REIT today announced its financial results for the year ended 30 June 2020.

The current, exceptionally low interest rates in South Africa have sparked off a sudden and unexpected call for residential property bonds.

The further reduction of the repo rate by 25 basis points to an all-time low of 3.5% takes the prime interest rate down to 7%, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

In the economic turmoil caused by Covid-19 lockdown, many people have not been able to pay their residential rent. Under government lockdown regulations – which try to ameliorate this problem – where do tenants and landlords stand legally?

Encouraging financial results revealed by 4AX listed company Heartwood Properties Cape Town, 18 June 2020.

“The COVID-19 Crisis has changed the world a lot, perhaps less through introducing new trends and more through speeding up old trends,” said John Loos, FNB Economist at an FNB Commercial Property Finance (CPF) webinar earlier today.

The current state of the economy brought about by many factors including the Covid 19 Pandemic and the recent downgrade to junk status is having an unparalleled effect on the real estate industry in South Africa.

On Sunday evening, the President announced a relaxation in COVID-19-related lockdown measures, from level 4 to level 3 as from 1 June, which means the opening up of most retail activity, excluding restaurant and pub facilities.

Despite a drop in profits, Tradehold’s management believes the company, which operates mainly in South Africa and the UK, has weathered well the highly volatile and demanding conditions that defined its 2020 financial year to end February.

It is vital that the entire construction industry be allowed to return to work as soon as possible.