Property deals in Zimbabwe come with a special advantage for tenants: the right of first refusal. Imagine you're renting a place, and suddenly, the landlord decides to sell. Instead of being left in the dark, you have a unique opportunity to buy the property before anyone else can.
This legal concept means landlords must give their current tenants the first shot at purchasing the property. If a landlord wants to sell, they have to approach the tenant first and offer them a chance to buy before looking for other buyers. The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe has been crystal clear about how this works.
Think of it like having a golden ticket. The landlord cannot simply sell the property to a random third party without first checking if the tenant wants to purchase it. However, tenants must be careful. The right of first refusal needs to be explicitly written into the lease agreement—it cannot be assumed or implied.
Proving this right takes work. Tenants must demonstrate that they have a legitimate right of first refusal through clear documentation. Moreover, if a third party buys the property without knowing about this right, the tenant might find themselves out of luck. The legal system requires solid evidence and precise communication to make this right stick.
This legal concept means landlords must give their current tenants the first shot at purchasing the property. If a landlord wants to sell, they have to approach the tenant first and offer them a chance to buy before looking for other buyers. The Supreme Court of Zimbabwe has been crystal clear about how this works.
Think of it like having a golden ticket. The landlord cannot simply sell the property to a random third party without first checking if the tenant wants to purchase it. However, tenants must be careful. The right of first refusal needs to be explicitly written into the lease agreement—it cannot be assumed or implied.
Proving this right takes work. Tenants must demonstrate that they have a legitimate right of first refusal through clear documentation. Moreover, if a third party buys the property without knowing about this right, the tenant might find themselves out of luck. The legal system requires solid evidence and precise communication to make this right stick.
