A common dispute in sectional title has to do with smoke emanating from either a braai fire or someone smoking a cigarette. Many sectional title residents seem to think that smoke is something that one must tolerate in a community scheme environment. Let’s look at what the Act and conduct rules say about second-hand smoke entering a neighbour’s private space...
With the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) recently promulgated many individuals are asking if their personal information is being shared with third parties against their will and if their information is being kept secure by those who have their information. Owners of sectional title properties should be asking the same questions of their scheme’s managing agents and trustees - whether...
Like any business, a body corporate is dependent on the income it derives from its operations. In the case of a body corporate, this income comes from its members paying levies without which the body corporate cannot function. How are levies calculated? The budget must be tabled for review and approval by the scheme members at every annual general meeting (AGM). The...
It can be quite costly when leaks cause damage inside a sectional title unit. This can happen when a geyser bursts or malfunction, or as a result of a leak from a pipe or the roof. The reality is that in many cases, the damage can be avoided – or at least, minimised – if it is maintained regularly. There are...
When owners are unable to attend a general meeting, they can appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf. Previous legislation did not set out any clear requirements for appointing a proxy at a general meeting and the number of proxies a person could represent was limitless, leading to owners taking advantage of this loophole and not attending...