Sectional title funds – why a cheque account simply won’t do The worst types of mistakes made are those we make without even realising it. Why? Because one minute we’re going about our business in ignorant bliss and the next the rug is pulled from under us when...
Dealing with smoking nuisance in community schemes This article aims to provide information to owners and residents of community schemes who are bothered by ‘second-hand smoke’ that drifts from another dwelling or an open area into their private area and causes them...
Read this before preparing a maintenance, repair and replacement plan How much does it cost, per square meter, to paint a 10 storey building? What is the expected life of a lift? What is the annual erosion rate of a sand dune situated beneath a boundary wall? How do...
As a unit owner, may I claim from the body corporate’s insurance? Sectional title legislation contains a couple of head-scratchers and the subject matter of this article is a prime example of one. Let’s look into this question in a bit more detail: We know that, as...
Know your rights and responsibilities when buying into a residential community It’s often the lifestyle - portrayed through beautiful photographs and a little advertising poetry - that gets potential buyers excited about the prospect of fishing, golf or bespoke wine...
Who is responsible to ensure body corporate compliance with relevant legislation? When engaging with the students on our Paddocks UCT Scheme Manager - Sectional Title short course online forum recently, I noted the telltale signs of widespread panic among those who...
Four things you should know about the POPI Act The Protection of Personal Information Act (more commonly known as POPI Act) came into operation on 1 July 2020. A grace period of 1 year has been granted to all organisations to ensure compliance with the POPI Act, and...
Sectional title levies – What am I paying for? One of the primary complaints received from owners in sectional title schemes around the country is, “My levies are too high, what can I do?” In order to understand why levies can be considered “too high”, we first need...
Why COVID-19 is not an excuse to delay an Annual General Meeting The global death toll from the coronavirus soared past the two million mark on Friday, 15 January 2021, just over a year after the virus was first detected. It is no surprise, therefore, that this...
How to approve and insure additional water heating systems on common property Using solar geysers or panels to heat water is becoming more and more common in community schemes, as up to 50% of household electricity costs can be consumed by heating water. In addition,...